The police have learned that the driver of the cash van who made off with Rs 98 lakh after drugging other employees of cash transporting firm CMS had joined the firm four months ago and they speculate that he had done it with the motive of looting cash.
The accused, identified as Sudhirkumar Vaghela, is a native Uttar Pradesh, the police said. On Friday evening, when he was steering the armoured vehicle, he made off with Rs 98 lakh cash from the van when it stopped to unload at an ATM, in a heist likely planned months ago.
Vaghela, who registered Chandkheda as his address with the company, vacated the place just four months back, after living there for three years, the police learned when they reached his house. Earlier, he used work as a driver for a private travel agency in Ahmedabad.
Police suspect Vaghela had been planning the loot for months, which is why he moved after joining the company. Till now, the police have not been able to reveal where he was living. His acquaintances do not know, the cops said.
The ACP of ‘A’ division has delegated three teams to locate him, while the crime branch has formed six.As per a crime branch official, a team has already been despatched to UP for investigation. The northern state’s local police are helping the cops from the state to nab him.
The daylight robbery took place on Friday at the T-junction near Rajpat Club, when the cash van carrying Rs 2 crore arrived at an HDFC bank ATM to deposit cash. When the van reached the spot, Vaghela is said to have offered tea to the three other employees — a gunman and two cash loaders — of the van which was laced with sedatives. After the trio fell unconscious, the accused fled with Rs 98 lakh cash.
CASH VAN LOOT
- The theft took place on Friday when the cash van was on its way to depositing cash in ATMs.
- The accused driver, Sudhirkumar Vaghela, is a UP native, cops said.
- He allegedly drugged the gunman and cash loaders and made off with Rs 98 lakh in cash.
