Akola: A daylight robbery at the residence of a businessman in Akola’s Ramdas Peth police station limits on Monday morning triggered panic in the area after the victim was allegedly assaulted, tied up and confined while cash and gold jewellery were taken away.The incident took place around 7:30am in the Naya Jeen area near Mohta Mill Road. The victim, Vijay Gupta, runs Gupta Flower Oil Industries from the premises where he resides.According to Gupta, a few people who had come to meet him attacked him and tied his hands and legs. He alleged that the robbers took ₹2.5 lakh in cash from him and ₹1.5 lakh kept with his wife, besides gold jewellery which he estimated to be worth around ₹50 lakh.Ramdas Peth police station incharge Shirish Khandare told TOI that a complaint has been registered in connection with the incident and the complainant has been sent for a medical examination.Khandare said the preliminary FIR records a loss involving ₹25 lakh to ₹30 lakh in cash along with gold ornaments. However, he clarified that the exact amount of cash and the quantity and value of gold could not yet be confirmed.“The complainant has given an estimate regarding the cash and gold. Until the accounts, cash and gold are properly verified, it would not be appropriate to give a final figure,” Khandare said.According to the victim’s account, one of the suspected persons had been working as a hamal with Gupta for the past four to five years. The family has alleged that the employee had recently started bringing another person with him.Police are investigating whether the suspected employee or any of his associates had prior knowledge about the valuables kept at the residence and whether the robbery was planned in advance. No individual’s role has been conclusively established so far.Police reached the spot soon after the incident and began collecting evidence. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being examined to identify the suspects and trace their movements before and after the robbery.Police have also launched a search for the accused and are working to establish how many persons were actually involved in the crime. Khandare said police were making efforts to identify and apprehend the accused at the earliest and that further investigation was underway.The exact value of the stolen cash and jewellery is expected to become clear after the complainant submits details and police complete the verification and investigation.
