Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Nov 8: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted an inter-state criminal syndicate allegedly involved in a series of daring daylight robberies targeting cash couriers transporting money for spice and agricultural commodity traders.

The STF arrested the alleged mastermind of the gang, Dinesh Chandra Yadav alias Chhotu, along with five active associates during an operation early on Sunday. Police also recovered Rs 48,45,000 in cash, weapons, vehicles and other articles suspected to have been used in the crimes.

According to officials, the STF received intelligence that members of the gang were assembling to distribute the proceeds of their robberies ahead of the Diwali festival. Acting on the information, an STF team led by Inspector Hemant Bhushan Singh, under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Singh, launched an operation and laid a blockade.

At around 1.50 am, the team intercepted six suspects near the gate of a cricket academy situated under the Sahara Bridge in the Gomti Nagar police station area of the Lucknow Commissionerate.

Apart from the alleged kingpin Yadav, the arrested accused have been identified as Saurabh Yadav, 25, a resident of Lucknow; Aman alias Raman Yadav, 25, from Gomti Nagar; Saurabh Dixit, 22, also from Gomti Nagar; Mohit Kanoujia, 24, a resident of Lucknow; and Gyan Singh, 25, originally from Begusarai in Bihar and currently residing in Chinhat, Lucknow.

During interrogation, investigators reportedly uncovered the gang's modus operandi for identifying and targeting cash couriers travelling between Gujarat and Lucknow.

According to police, the syndicate relied on an informant named Amrit Lal Pal, who allegedly monitored the movements of cash carriers and noted the registration numbers of scooters used by them.

Another operative, Kanoujia, was allegedly responsible for conducting reconnaissance on a motorcycle. He would track the movements of the couriers and alert other gang members as soon as a target began its journey, allowing the group to plan and execute the robbery.

The gang members would then intercept the couriers by deliberately ramming a car into their two-wheelers, causing them to fall on the road. Initially, the accused allegedly used one car to carry out the robberies. Later, they purchased another car with money obtained from previous heists and reportedly used it in subsequent operations.

Once the victims fell, the alleged mastermind, Yadav, would threaten them with a pistol, while other gang members assaulted them with iron rods and wooden sticks. The accused would then snatch bags containing large amounts of cash and flee, officials said.

Investigators said questioning of the arrested suspects had linked the syndicate to several major robbery incidents reported across Lucknow. The recovery of cash, weapons, vehicles and other belongings is expected to assist the police in probing the gang's activities and establishing its involvement in additional cases.

The STF recovered a total of Rs 48,45,000 from the six accused. Of this amount, Rs 12,50,000 was seized from Dinesh Yadav, Rs 10,90,000 from Saurabh Yadav, Rs 11,10,000 from Aman Yadav, Rs 5,75,000 from Dixit, Rs 4,20,000 from Kanoujia and Rs 4,00,000 from Gyan Singh.

Apart from the cash, police seized an illegal .32-bore pistol fitted with a magazine and two live cartridges. A car allegedly purchased using proceeds from previous robberies and subsequently used in the gang's operations was also recovered.

The STF further seized a motorcycle reportedly used by the accused for conducting reconnaissance and tracking their targets. Seven mobile phones were also recovered from the arrested suspects.

In addition, police seized identity documents, driving licences and PAN cards belonging to victims and other associates, which are suspected to have been collected or retained during the alleged criminal activities.

Following the arrests, a case has been registered at Gomti Nagar police station under Case Crime No. 491/2026. The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act.

Further legal proceedings have been initiated by the local police.