Four men on bikes rob mobile wholesaler of ₹30 lakh, scooter at gun point in Mumbai

A 24-year-old mobile phone wholesaler said he was robbed of Rs 30 lakh cash at gunpoint at Mumbai Central, on Tuesday. Vikram Purohit said he was on his Activa when four men on two motorcycles accosted him near BIT chawl. One of the men held him at gunpoint while the others took his scooter and money before fleeing, he said. Purohit owns a shop at City Center Mall, Mumbai Central, and was taking the Rs30 lakh home.

A family friend, who did not wish to be named, said, “Being a wholesaler of mobile handsets, Purohit’s family only deals in cash. He would frequently take cash home and bring it back to the shop, whenever needed.”

On Tuesday, he put Rs 30 lakh in a bag, placed it under the seat of his Activa, and left for home at around 4pm. However, he chose to take a shortcut. An officer from the Nagpada police said, “He took the BIT chawl road, which is a bit secluded, to reach home. Robbers confronted him at an isolated spot near the chawl and pointed a revolver at him.”

In his statement to the police, Purohit said the men threatened to kill him. His family friend said, “Suddenly, one of the men got off the bike and snatched his Activa at gunpoint. They threatened to kill him if he followed them.” Purohit said the men then fled with his two-wheeler and the cash.

At 6.15pm the police found the Activa at 13th street, Nagpada, after receiving a tip-off from an anonymous caller. Senior police inspector Sanjay Baswant at Nagpada police station, “We will soon file a first information report (FIR). We are also checking about the amount quoted by the victim.”