An attempted robbery at Dhanlaxmi Bank in the Piplani police station area was thwarted on Friday afternoon. A young man wearing a helmet and mask entered the bank, sprayed pepper spray on employees, and attempted to flee with cash. Despite the burning sensation in their eyes, the bank employees bravely tried to apprehend him, forcing the robber to flee. The police arrested the accused within two hours.
Incident Details Captured on CCTV
The incident occurred around 4 PM and was captured on the bank’s CCTV cameras. Earlier in the day, the accused, identified as Sanjay Kumar (24), had visited the bank under the pretext of opening an account. He provided a rent agreement as part of the documentation but was asked to remove his mask and return later.
At 4 PM, Kumar returned to the bank, this time armed with pepper spray. He targeted the cash counter, spraying the employees to disorient them. However, the staff quickly reacted, forcing him to abandon his plan and flee.
Police Action and Arrest
Piplani police station in-charge Anurag Lal stated that three teams were formed to track the accused. Using CCTV footage, technical evidence, and tips from informers, the police apprehended Kumar within two hours while he was attempting to escape from Bhopal.
Motive Behind the Crime
During interrogation, Kumar revealed that he had lost ₹2 lakh in an online gaming app, including borrowed money and funds meant for his education. Facing financial distress, he planned the robbery as a desperate measure. The police recovered his motorcycle and the pepper spray used in the crime.
Additional Arrests in Ujjain Honeytrap Case
In a separate case in Ujjain, the police arrested three women—Pinky, her mother Sajan Bai, and sister Rajni Patidar—for extorting ₹4 crore from an elderly astrologer over three years. The trio had allegedly trapped the victim in a honeytrap. The police recovered ₹45 lakh in cash and jewelry worth ₹55 lakh from their possession. Two accomplices are still at large, and the police are actively searching for them.
