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.

Two Dead After Bike Hits Railing on Indore’s Luv Kush Overpass

A high-speed bike accident on the Luv Kush square bridge late Friday night claimed the lives of a young woman and her male colleague.

A late-night commute turned into a tragedy on Indore's Luv Kush Square bridge after a speeding two-wheeler crashed into the safety railing, leading to the death of two individuals. The impact was so severe that the woman passenger was flung off the overpass, falling several feet to the ground below.

The accident, which occurred during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, initially claimed the life of the woman on the spot. The male rider, who sustained critical head injuries, passed away during treatment at a local hospital on Saturday.

Late-night crash near Banganga

According to the Banganga police, the victims have been identified as Payal Chavda and Akram. The duo was reportedly traveling from the Vijay Nagar area toward the Super Corridor when the accident took place. As they ascended the Luv Kush Square flyover, the rider lost control of the vehicle, causing it to scrape and eventually slam into the concrete railing.

"The bike was at a high speed when it hit the side of the bridge. The woman was thrown over the railing due to the momentum," said Banganga TI Siyaram Gurjar.

Victims identified as coworkers

Initial investigations revealed that both Payal and Akram worked together at a private firm in the city. Payal was a native of Kalapipal, while Akram hailed from Mandsaur. They had been living in Indore for work.

Passersby who witnessed the aftermath of the crash alerted the emergency services. While the woman was declared dead on arrival by doctors, Akram fought for his life for several hours before succumbing to his injuries on Saturday morning.

High speed suspected on flyover

Preliminary site inspections by the local police suggest that over-speeding was a primary factor in the crash. The Luv Kush Square stretch, which connects major hubs like the Super Corridor, often sees high-speed traffic during the late hours.

Impact marks on the bridge railing indicate that the bike dragged for a few meters before the riders were ejected. Police are also looking into whether any other vehicle was involved or if the rider swerved to avoid an obstacle.

Families notified for autopsy

The body of the deceased woman was sent for a post-mortem examination on Saturday morning. Procedures for Akram’s autopsy are currently underway following his death during treatment.

"We have informed the family members of both the deceased. The statements of the families will be recorded once they reach Indore," a police official added.

Safety concerns on Super Corridor

The incident has once again highlighted the risks of speeding on Indore's flyovers, particularly the Luv Kush and Super Corridor stretches. Local residents have frequently raised concerns regarding the lack of adequate lighting and speed-calming measures on these high-speed transit points.

The Banganga police have registered a case and are checking CCTV footage from cameras installed near the Luv Kush Square to reconstruct the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal crash.

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.