Two Activa-borne assailants grabbed a cash-laden bag from agent Mukesh Agarwal in Pandhrinath area; police from three stations now coordinating the hunt

A brazen robbery unfolded in Indore's Pandhrinath locality late Thursday evening when two unidentified men on an Activa scooter snatched a bag containing approximately Rs 30 lakh from a collection agent and fled the scene. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras, giving investigators crucial footage to work with.

The Robbery

The victim, Mukesh Agarwal, works as a collection agent for utensil traders operating in the Bartan Bazaar and Mohanpura areas of the city. Around 8:30 PM, he was on his way back after collecting payments from merchants in his regular circuit when the two assailants intercepted him. They first threatened him before physically snatching the bag from his hands and speeding away on their two-wheeler.

The cash in the bag represented collections made from multiple traders during the day's rounds, making the loss significant both for Agarwal and the business owners he works for.

CCTV Footage Aids Investigation

The robbery was clearly recorded on surveillance cameras installed in the area. The footage, according to police, shows both accused approaching the agent, confronting him, and then fleeing with the bag. Investigators have been scouring CCTV feeds from surrounding streets to trace the route taken by the assailants after the incident.

Agarwal reached Pandhrinath police station at around 9 PM and filed a complaint. Senior officers arrived shortly after to take stock of the situation, with the case quickly drawing attention from higher levels of the city's police administration.

Three Stations Mobilised

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Dishesh Agarwal confirmed that teams from three police stations have been assigned to the case. Around 25 personnel are currently deployed in the effort to identify and arrest the accused. Officers remained at the police station well past 2 AM, piecing together the movement of the suspects and analysing available footage.

Insider Angle Being Probed

A detail that investigators are reportedly not ruling out is the possibility of prior knowledge on the assailants' part. Police sources indicate that suspicion has emerged over whether someone acquainted with the collection agent may have tipped off the robbers about the cash he was carrying that evening. The exact route and timing of the robbery have reinforced these doubts, though no arrests have been made so far.

Next Steps

The investigation remains active, with police teams spread across the area in search of leads. Footage from multiple CCTV points is being reviewed to build a clearer picture of where the accused went after the incident. Authorities have not yet ruled out the use of technical surveillance to track the Activa used in the crime.

Further details are expected to emerge as the probe progresses over the coming day.

Indore Extortion Racket Exposed

Lawrence Gang's 'Corporate' Double-Shooter Tactics Target Builders

Police interrogations have peeled back layers of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's operations in Indore, revealing a tightly run extortion network that spied even on its own shooters. Key arrests have exposed how Harry Boxer, a shadowy overseas operative, orchestrated threats against prominent builders while demanding crores in cryptocurrency ransoms.

Double Surveillance on Gang Members

Crime Branch sources say Rajpal Chandrawat, recently nabbed in connection with a firing incident, confessed to the gang's paranoia-fueled methods during questioning. Chandrawat revealed that before any hit or reconnaissance, Harry Boxer's team deployed "double shooters"—shadow operatives tailing their own men to prevent betrayal or slip-ups. This fear kept lower-rung criminals in line, with some surrendering to police out of sheer dread, according to initial reports.

The setup was almost corporate in its precision, insiders noted. Encrypted apps like FaceTime and Signal handled all internal chatter, dodging law enforcement surveillance.

Rs 5 Crore Crypto Heist from Builder

A major breakthrough came in the extortion of a city builder, where the gang squeezed nearly Rs 5 crore without direct cash handovers. Funds were funneled via cryptocurrency to Dubai, then routed to Boxer abroad—the builder, spooked by threats to his family, stayed silent and skipped filing a complaint. Police confirmed the victim operated from upscale areas, but details remain guarded to protect ongoing probes.timesofindia.

Chandrawat, acting from jail, coordinated reconnaissance on this target using Dev as contacts, Crime Branch officers added.

Next Target: Racecourse Road Builder

Interrogation transcripts point to Vivek Dammami, a builder on posh Racecourse Road, as the next mark. Gangster Sonu alias Ritesh from Jeetnagar was tasked with full surveillance—photos, locations, family details—all prepped for a firing to enforce compliance. The plan fizzled when police nabbed Ritesh, an associate of Chandrawat, averting the strike.timesofindia.indiatimes+1

Dammami's office got the chilling WhatsApp call around 10:30 am on April 14, with the caller—posing as Harry Boxer—boasting real-time tracking of his son and vowing bullets if Rs 5 crore wasn't paid.

Firing Link to Bio-Cotton Trader

Chandrawat owned up to the firing outside bio-cotton trader Dilip Singh Rathore's home in Kasrawad, Khargone. He'd tipped off the gang about a Rs 50 lakh dispute, triggering a Rs 10 crore extortion demand via voice notes. Sumer Singh Solanki, a close Dev as ally of Chandrawat, is now in custody over this episode.

Rathore was away in Indore during the late-evening shots, but videos of the attack followed, ramping up pressure.

NIA's Prior Shadow

Chandrawat and Yogesh Bhati pop up in NIA files from high-profile cases, including the rocket launcher assault on Punjab Police Intelligence headquarters. The agency had grilled them earlier, linking them to Lawrence's broader terror network.

From Ratlam's Hathnara village, Chandrawat drove for a local leader before running a school that folded in 2021 amid money woes—pushing him into crime.

Business Community on Edge

Indore's builders and traders are rattled, with threats hitting two more businessmen for Rs 10 crore just days after Dammami's scare—property dealer Chetan Singh Panwar and partner Kunwar Singh Bhuria. Crime Branch has ramped up security and formed an SIT, vowing to dismantle the module.

Police hint at GST and RERA data leaks fueling target lists, signaling a tech-savvy upgrade in gang tactics. As probes deepen, expect more arrests—Indore's underbelly is cracking open.

Indore Police have uncovered a finance company vehicle seizure racket in which private agents allegedly used leaked borrower data to illegally seize vehicles from loan defaulters and demand money for their return. One accused has been arrested in the case, while two others remain absconding, police said.

The case surfaced in Indore’s Hiranagar area after a local resident alleged that his financed motorcycle was forcibly taken away by three men who claimed to be acting on behalf of a finance company. Police said the accused were not authorised recovery agents but were working on commission and allegedly targeting borrowers whose instalments were overdue.

Complaint Triggers Probe

According to officials, the case came to light after Rajiv Nagar resident Shakeel Khan filed a complaint with Hiranagar police. Khan, a mechanic by profession, told police that he had purchased a motorcycle in 2025 through vehicle finance from L&T.

He alleged that while returning home from Aurobindo Hospital two days ago, three men intercepted him near the MR-10 area and accused him of defaulting on loan instalments. The men then forcibly took away his motorcycle and left the spot.

Fraud Recovery Tactic

Khan later approached the finance company office to verify whether the vehicle had been lawfully repossessed. Officials there reportedly told him that no authorised staff member had seized the motorcycle.

This raised suspicion and prompted Khan to begin tracing the vehicle on his own. During his search, he reportedly spotted one of the men riding the motorcycle. When confronted, the accused allegedly demanded money in exchange for returning the vehicle.

Police said this established that the seizure was not part of any lawful recovery process but an extortion attempt carried out under the guise of loan recovery.

One Accused Arrested

Acting on the complaint, Hiranagar police launched an investigation and arrested Neeraj Lodhi. During questioning, Lodhi allegedly admitted that he and two associates had been identifying vehicle owners with pending instalments and forcibly taking possession of their vehicles.

Police said the accused were working on commission and were not officially employed by any finance company. Investigators suspect they were part of an informal recovery network operating outside legal procedures and using borrower vulnerability for financial gain.

The two other accused named by Lodhi are currently absconding. Police teams have been deployed to trace and arrest them, as per reports.

Data Leak Under Lens

A key part of the investigation now centres on how the accused obtained sensitive borrower information. Police said preliminary findings suggest that lists of loan defaulters were being shared with the accused through unofficial channels.

According to investigators, the men received details of customers who had defaulted on instalments, including contact numbers and vehicle information, and used that data to identify and target victims.

Police are now examining whether insiders linked to finance companies or third-party recovery networks leaked customer records. Officials indicated that those found responsible for sharing data could also be made accused in the case.

Recovery Rules Questioned

The case has raised fresh questions over loan recovery practices and the role of unauthorised agents in vehicle repossession. Under existing norms, finance companies must follow due legal process while recovering financed assets and cannot permit coercive seizure by unauthorised individuals.

Any use of force, intimidation or unlawful repossession falls outside regulated recovery procedures and may attract criminal liability. The latest case is likely to draw scrutiny from regulators and law enforcement over informal recovery arrangements and borrower data handling.

Probe Expands Further

Police said the investigation is now focused on identifying the full network behind the finance company vehicle seizure racket, including those who supplied borrower data and enabled illegal recoveries.Officials are also examining whether similar incidents have taken place in other parts of the city.

A failed ransom bid in the Indore kidnapping case ended within seven hours on Thursday after police rescued two boys and arrested four neighbours who allegedly plotted the abduction to make quick money. According to officials, the accused had surveyed children from well-off families in their locality before picking up two boys from a public garden in Indore’s Lalaram Nagar.

Children Traced Fast

The two boys, Naitik, 9, and Samrat, 11, were allegedly abducted on Thursday evening from a garden in Lalaram Nagar by people known to them. Police said the children were taken to a flat in Dutt Nagar, where they were kept while the accused prepared to seek ransom from their families.

The Indore kidnapping case was cracked after a relative of one of the boys alerted family members when the children failed to return home. The information quickly reached police, triggering a city-wide search operation.

Four Accused Arrested

Police arrested four accused within hours of the complaint. They were identified as Vineet Prajapati, 22, his sister Radhika Prajapati, 19, Lalit Sen, 21, and his wife Tanisha, 20.

Investigators said Vineet and Radhika were the alleged masterminds of the plot, while Lalit and Tanisha helped execute the kidnapping. All four lived in the same neighbourhood and were known to one another.

Shortcut For Money

According to police, the accused planned the abduction after prolonged financial distress and unemployment. Vineet had reportedly been out of work for six months after losing his job and was struggling with unpaid rent and debt.

Lalit, a driver, was also unemployed for months. Tanisha had worked earlier in the private sector but was reportedly facing financial strain. Officials said the group decided to target children after discussing ways to earn money quickly.

Police sources indicated that Tanisha had asked Radhika about a “shortcut” to make money. During that conversation, Radhika allegedly suggested kidnapping children who visited a local garden and demanding ransom from their families.

Children Were Surveyed

Police said the accused had watched children visiting the garden for several days and identified those they believed came from financially strong households. The plan was to abduct children from affluent families and demand ransom.

However, investigators said the accused misjudged their targets. Instead of picking children from wealthy homes, they allegedly abducted two boys from working-class families. Officials said the accused were unaware that one child’s father runs a juice cart while the other earns by playing the dholak.

Lured With Promise

Police said the children were taken away on the pretext of being shown birds and animals. One of the accused allegedly persuaded the boys to accompany her before taking them to a flat.

During questioning, the boys told police they were made to sit inside the room, given food and allowed to play mobile games. Later, when they insisted on going home, the accused allegedly threatened them after failing to secure money. Officials said the children were then told to hide when police arrived and were made to believe “goons” had come to harm them.

Police Rescue Operation

Indore Police tracked the children using mobile location inputs and surveillance leads. According to officials, plainclothes personnel monitored the suspected flat after noticing unusual activity, including repeated switching of lights and movement inside.

Once suspicion was confirmed, police raided the premises and rescued both boys safely. The four accused were detained on the spot.

Police Commissioner Santosh Singh monitored the operation through the night, officials said. Senior officers coordinated teams across multiple police station limits to ensure the children were traced before any ransom exchange could take place.

Earlier Crime Plan

During interrogation, police found that the four had allegedly discussed another serious crime days earlier. Officials said the group had first planned to rob a jewellery shop about a week ago but dropped the idea after it failed to materialise. Investigators believe the kidnapping plan was then drawn up as an alternative.