Without budget for fuel, AP gang plans robbery drama, held

Parthiban of Gummidipoondi was on his way to Chennai to book a new bike when the three men intercepted his two-wheeler around 10.30 pm near Padianallur. They threw chilli powder on his face and snatched Rs 1 lakh from him.

Hearing his cries for help, truck drivers rushed to his rescue and secured the trio. They were handed over to Red Hills police, who identified them as Prithvi, Gopi and Anjaneyalu. However, interrogation revealed that they came to Chennai to stage a drama by robbing their friend of Rs 10 lakh.

Sandeep of Vijayawada, who works in a jewellery shop, travelled often to buy gold from Chennai.

Sandeep told his friend Rahul of Karim Nagar to stage a robbery drama in Chennai so that they could share the money he brings with him, said the police.

“Rahul approached his friends Asif Sakar, Prithvi, Anjaneyalu and Gopi. They hatched a plan to follow the bus in which Sandeep travels on two bikes and carry out the robbery in Tamil Nadu border to avoid suspicion. While they started from Vijayawada on Tuesday, one of their bikes ran out of petrol near Nellore, and Rahul and Asif Sakar had to cut short their trip as they did not have money to fill petrol. The other three men followed the bus till Padianallur before their bike too ran out of fuel. As they did not have any money to refill petrol, they decided to rob someone and but were caught in the act,” said police.

While the three men were remanded in judicial custody on Wednesday, the Andhra Pradesh police have been informed about the incident to arrest the remaining suspects, including Sandeep.