Kalyan robbery: Thane police arrest 6, including firm's own employee, in 24 hours
Thane crime branch recovered most of the 40 lakh rupees stolen in a daylight robbery in Kalyan, finding an insider had planned the heist
The Thane police crime branch solved a daylight robbery of 40 lakh rupees in the Kalyan West area of Thane district within just 24 hours, arresting six accused. Police recovered 36 lakh 48 thousand rupees in cash from them, along with two motorcycles used in the robbery. The most startling finding of the investigation was that the entire plot had been hatched by an employee of the company itself.
The incident took place around 1:05 pm on September 15 in the Kalyan West area. Two employees of Ulhasnagar-based Kranti Food Agency had set out on a scooter to deposit 40 lakh rupees in cash at the Kalyan West branch of Bank of Baroda. The robbery took place just 100 metres from the bank.
While travelling from Sahajanand Chowk towards Lalchowki, four accused riding two motorcycles rammed into the employees' scooter. Both employees fell onto the road after the collision. The accused took advantage of this to assault them and snatch the bag containing the cash. All the accused then fled the scene on their motorcycles.
The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras in the area, which proved crucial in helping police track down the accused. After a case was registered at Bazarpeth police station, the Thane police crime branch began searching for the accused based on technical investigation and covert information. Using CCTV footage and other technical evidence, police first reached one accused, whose interrogation revealed the entire plan behind the robbery.
According to the police investigation, Sameer Akhtar Shaikh, an employee of Kranti Food Agency, turned out to be the mastermind behind the robbery. He is suspected to have planned the entire scheme to steal the 40 lakh rupees in cash with the help of his associates. What was most surprising was that even after the robbery, two of the accused continued working at the same shop so that the owner would not suspect them.
Police have arrested six accused in the case: Sameer Akhtar Shaikh (28), Aftab Aslam Khan (25), Shahanawaz Gaffar Hasan Ansari (36), Sohaib Younus Shaikh (24), Mujahid Anwar Khan (24) and Shahid Isaac Shaikh (19). Police have seized 36 lakh 48 thousand rupees in cash from the accused, along with the two motorcycles used in the robbery.
All the arrested accused were produced in court, which remanded them to police custody until September 22, 2026. Further investigation will look into the remaining details of the conspiracy, the roles of the accused and the movement of money. CCTV footage, technical investigation and covert police information played a key role in cracking the 40 lakh robbery case within just 24 hours.
