Over Rs200 million looted in Karachi as employee drives off with cash van

Published August 11, 2021
The police have registered a case against the driver and launched an investigation into the alleged robbery. — AFP/File
The police have registered a case against the driver and launched an investigation into the alleged robbery. — AFP/File

A driver allegedly looted more than Rs200 million from a cash van of a security company on Karachi's main I.I. Chundrigar Road, it emerged on Wednesday, as police said they were probing the "unusual" incident from different aspects.

Mithadar police’s Special Investigation Officer (SIO) Chaudhry Tariq said the driver of the van was involved in looting the huge cash amount on August 9. The officer said police were investigating the case from different angles, but did not elaborate.

The officer admitted that no concrete progress had been made in the case so far and efforts were still underway to arrest the driver.

According to the first information report (FIR) lodged by a regional operations manager of the security company, Shoaib Sheikh, the cash van was transporting over Rs200m from Tariq Road to the State Bank of Pakistan located on I.I. Chundrigar Road, the "Pakistani Wall Street".

The company's guard, Mohammed Saleem, went inside the bank to take the receipt. When he returned, he saw that the cash van was no longer parked outside. He called the van driver, Husain Shah, who initially informed him that he would come back within a short time, according to the contents of the FIR.

However, when the guard called again, the driver had switched off his cell phone. The van was traced and found on Queen’s Road through the company's tracking system. During inspection, it was found that along with the cash, the weapons, a camera and a DVR were also missing from the van.

Police have registered a case against the driver and launched an investigation into the alleged theft.

Last week, two guards of a money changer were shot dead in Buffer Zone and a worker was wounded by suspected robbers over resistance. They took away around Rs1m from the victims and escaped. The driver of the van remained safe.

Police had claimed that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were not followed for transferring the huge cash amount from a bank to the money changer's office.

Opinion

Editorial

Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

FORMER first lady Bushra Bibi’s video address to PTI followers has triggered a firestorm. Her assertion implying...
Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...