Robbers get seven years’ RI

They had stolen mobile phone, silver coins and Rs1.51 lakh in cash

Sessions Judge SJ Shah convicted three notorious robbers to seven years rigorous imprisonment on Saturday for stealing Rs1.51 lakh in cash, a mobile phone and 10 silver coins from the office of a businessman at Fort. 

According to the prosecution, five persons, carrying two revolvers and three choppers, had barged into the office of Mahesh Rungta, 34, located in Bhupen Chambers, Dalal street at Fort on February 17, 2000 at 5 pm. Rungta, who is a PVC leather bag manufacturer, was busy in a meeting with another businessman Naeem Sheikh, 35. The robbers threatened the two, and later confined nine employees present in the office in another room. They  demanded keys to the locker from Rungta and fled with the loot.

Sub Inspector Shashank Shinde and Police Inspector Sripad Gunjkar succeeded in arresting five robbers identified as Ashish Rathod, 31, Murlidhar Panniker, 32, Naresh Singh Thakur, 37, Suresh alias Bala Kirve, 31, and Prashant Pawaskar, 33 from Byculla on February 21, 2000. The police also recovered a revolver and a chopper from them. After the investigation, Shinde, who is now attached to the CST railway police station as inspector, filed a chargsheet in the Sessions Court for trial. However, they were released on bail by the court in 2001.

During the trial, Shah examined nine witnesses, including two women employees, and found three robbers — Rathod, Panniker and Thakur — guilty.