Massive robbery at gunpoint in Kochi; masked men loot Rs 80 lakh from corporate office 

KOCHI: One person has been taken into custody in connection with a five-member gang robbing a company at gunpoint in the city. The massive robbery of Rs 80 lakh was carried out at the corporate office of National Steel Sales Centre in Kundannoor, Kochi, by threatening the company's employees at gunpoint. The robbers came wearing masks. It is reported that the Maradu police have taken into custody a person believed to be one of the five-member gang. Saji, a native of Vaduthala, has been arrested. He is being questioned under the leadership of the ACP.

It is believed that a money-doubling gang carried out the robbery. A gang had approached Subin, the owner of the steel sales centre, promising to return the money in double if he paid Rs 80 lakh. Saji, who is in police custody, acted as an intermediary in this. There was an argument between the gang and Subin regarding the money-doubling. This is why the plan to carry out the robbery in broad daylight was hatched.

First, two men arrived here on a bike at 3:30 pm. They conducted surveillance at the establishment and left. Later, five men arrived in a car, parked their vehicle next to the establishment and entered. They were armed with a machete and a gun. The money was being counted on the table in the company at that time. The gang took the money from the employees and escaped in the car they came in.

There are no CCTV cameras inside the company where the robbery took place. The suspects were identified by checking the other CCTVs in the area. The employees said that they had stolen money that was kept for buying stock, as it is a steel wholesale distribution company. The police have received information about the car in which the robbery gang came.