Call centre cabbie gang busted, 2 held

NEW DELHI: Remember the killer cabbies on NH-8 who used to give a ride to commuters on the Delhi-Gurgaon road and kill them for fun. Even two years since the gang was unearthed, little has changed on the killer stretch. The recent arrests of two persons suggests robbers continue to strike on NH-8.
In August this year, a businessman who took a lift in a call-centre cab was robbed by four youth in the car, including the driver.Nearly two months after the incident, the Vasant Kunj police arrested two persons of the gang on Thursday and learnt the gang had been operational for past many months. Those arrested were identified as Shambhu Kumar (21) and Shankar alias Kallu (22). Their two associates are still absconding.
As is the case usually, the police from Delhi and Gurgaon fought over the jurisdiction and finally the case was registered in Delhi.
According to the police, the incident took place when the businessman from Gurgaon���s Sector 14, Lalit Mohan Gandhi (56), was standing at IFFCKO chowk waiting for the bus to ISBT. He was going to Ludhiana in connection with his business. Around 11 pm, a call centre cab stopped by and offered him a lift for Rs 10. He told them he wanted to go to ISBT and they agreed.
������There were four persons in the cab. After crossing the toll plaza, they bought beer. While the four consumed liquor, Gandhi refused on being offered. The driver accelerated the cab and took a U-turn under the Mahipalpur flyover,������ said a police officer quoting Gandhi.
They told Gandhi they have to get petrol and stopped near the Radisson Hotel. Three of them caught hold of Gandhi and started assaulting him. They robbed him of his mobile, gold ring, ATM card, camera, cheques and cash worth Rs 16,000. They later dumped Gandhi near the Shiv Murti and fled from the spot, said the police.
Gandhi approached the police and was told that since he had taken the ride from Gurgaon, he should lodge the complaint with the Gurgaon police. However, after preliminary investigation, the Gurgaon police transferred the complaint to Delhi police and a case of robbery was registered at the Vasant Kunj police station.
Tracking the stolen mobile phone, police learnt that it had been sold to one man near Palam. After questioning him, the police found Shambhu and Shankar. The two confessed to their involvement in the crime and the robbed mobile was seized.
The police added the two accused, along with two others, were involved in similar cases of robberies at NH-8. One of their associate is a driver at a call centre. Raids are being conducted to apprehend the other members of the gang.
rahul.tripathi@timesgroup.com