Published On : Thu, Mar 6th, 2014

Mastermind from UP among two arrested in hostage drama, robbery at Kothari’s bungalow

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Kothari-2Nagpur News.

Kothari family, whose members were held hostage on knife point and robbed of Rs 6.20 lakh at their house in Civil Lines here, can heave a sigh of relief as the crime branch achieved a major breakthrough in the case on Thursday. The officials have arrested two people allegedly involved in the daring act. One of the accused Nanbabu alias Bachchulal Mourya, 30, was picked up from Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh and brought here on Thursday while the other Mushtaq Ahmed alias Bhaijaan was arrested from Mominpura. Both the accused were handed over to Sitabuldi police who were investigating the case. No recovery was reported from either of the two.

Police sources informed that Mourya is suspected mastermind of the entire plot weaved to commit the crime. Interestingly, Mourya was also the prime accused in the dreaded shootout of Lakhotia brothers at their office here some years back. He was on bail since then and went ahead with another crime in the meantime.

Confirming the arrests, crime branch PI Madhav Giri told Nagpur Today that following the leads, the police team had gone to Chitrakoot (UP) and nabbed Mourya from there. Meanwhile, it surfaced that Mushtaq kept watch on Kothari family’s bungalow and updated their routine to other members of the notorious group. He said that hunt for six more accused was still on.

When quizzed further, Giri refused to divulge details. He however hinted that the cops were close to cracking the case and remaining accused would be also arrested anytime soon. The officials were trying to extract more information from the arrested men about other absconding accused.

On February 26, six people in their youth entered the bungalow of beetle nut trader Ujjwal Lalit Kothari, 36 years on Temple Road in Civil Lines here. The youth allegedly struck the house when the wife and daughter of Ujjwal Kothari were alone in the house. The youth rung the door-bell and hid in such a manner that Kothari’s wife could not locate them from the peep-hole.  The moment she opened the door to check out, one of the thieves trained a knife at her throat and warned her against making any noise. All of them took the members inside the house and locked it from inside. They also threatened both the women against shouting or making any noise. The men reportedly possessed sharp edged weapons and fire-arms. While two youths huddled the mother-daughter duo to one corner of the house, the other youths went searching for cash, jewellery and easily saleable goods in the house. They tracked out gold and silver ornaments from the bedroom almirah, Rs 3.45 cash and a wrist watch collectively worth Rs 6.20 lakh.

At around 8 pm same day, Ujjwal returned home along with his friend after closing his establishment. Sensing danger, the thieves immediately drew a trick inspired from the Bollywood movie. Taking the daughter on knife point, they asked her mother to open the door and let the men in without sounding any alert to them.

Two youths hid behind the door. As soon as the door opened, Ujjwal and his friend too were taken at the knife point.

After  looting  all the goods, the thieves, bolted  the  door  from  outside  and  fled the  scene  on  their  motorcycles.  So shaken up were the family members that they ventured out only after an hour of the incident. Later, they called up their friends and relatives. Ujjwal  then reported  the  incident  at  Sitabuldi  police.

cctv-exclusive– By Ravikant Kamble