BENGALURU: Retired DySP Babu Noronha, who was arrested by the JP Nagar police on Wednesday for allegedly robbing Rs 83 lakhs from a realtor, was sent to judicial custody on Thursday.
On November 25, Noronha, along with four others, who worked with him during his service, robbed a realtor on pretext of converting Rs 1.3 crore worth old currency notes into new ones. The accused allegedly entered the realtor’s residence posing as CCB sleuths and made away with the cash.
A senior police officer said that the prime accused Lohith revealed about Noronha’s involvement. “During investigation, we learnt that Noronha was in the rear seat when the gang fled in a car with cash,” he said.
“After his retirement, Noronha was in constant touch with the CCB informers. Since Noronha also worked in CCB, he had details of those who had unaccounted money. Thus, he hatched the plot to rob Rs 83 lakhs. Soon, we will take him to our custody for further interrogation,” police added.
“We have also found call records which substantiate that Noronha was in touch with Lohith,” police added.
“However, when Noronha was produced before the court, he claimed that he was allegedly locked inside a bathroom by the gang at his house and the gang snatched his ID card. Two accused involved in the crime are still at large,” the officer added.
On last Thursday, one Akshay had called realtors Sathish, Shivaram and two of their friends and duped them by offering 20 per cent commission to exchange new notes for the old demonetised currency notes worth Rs 1.3 crore. As soon as Akshay reached Satish’s residence, three men arrived in a Skoda car and claimed they were from the Central Crime Branch. Then they loaded the cash bags into the car and asked the duo to accompany them to the CCB office. Midway, Satish and Shivaram were forced to get down from the car and the accused fled with the cash.