Cracking the Civil Lines robbery case, the Crime Branch has arrested three persons, on Monday, and recovered Rs 5.50 lakh cash. One of the accused is a car driver with Nair Sons company whose employee was robbed of Rs 8.5 lakh cash at gun-point on Friday. The accused have been identified as Amit Nagose (30), Amit Khandekar (40), and Abhishek Bansod (20), all residents of Nagpur. Nagose is a driver with Nair Sons. One suspect, Lalit Padauti (40), a resident of Wadi, is still at large. The police suspect involvement of the accused in many other cases.

According to the police, the robbery took place near Ladies Club Chowk, where Nagose had tipped other accused about the cash. The suspects had planned the robbery, and Nagose, was in the car with the company’s employee Yogesh Choudhary at the time of the robbery. The police were suspicious about Nagose who misled them until the call details were scrutinised. Cops had cracked the case based on the call details.

Further investigation revealed that Khandekar set-up a Chinese food stall in IT Park premises, where all the accused used to meet. Nagose knew that Choudhary was often asked by the company to collect payments from traders. He collaborated with the other accused to plan the robbery. The vehicles used in the robbery were stolen from Sadar. Khandekar was riding a two-wheeler for many years. After committing the robbery, the accused went to Padauti’s house, where they divided the amount. Nagose’s share was kept with Khandekar. The police have, so far, seized Rs 5.50 lakh. The remaining cash is with Paduati, who also has the pistol used in the crime. Under the guidance of DCP Sudarshan Mumakka, Police Inspector Rahul Shire, API Ganesh Pawar, Gajanan Chambhare, PSI Balram Jhadhokar, HC Santosh Thakur, Santosh Madankar, Rajesh Tiwari, Ashish Thakre, Praveen Jambhulkar, Ronnie Anthony, Mahendra Sadmake, Pnitesh Ingle, Sunil Kuwar, Kishore Thackeray, Sheshrao Raut, Praveen, Mithun Naik, Parag Dhok, Praveen Lodhe, Chandshekhar Kshirsagar, and Kamlesh Gahlod conducted carried out the investigation.