Rs 4 crore Robbery at Doctor Couple House: IT sleuths steps in to ascertain how doctors had amassed so much wealth

Ludhiana: Following the robbery estimated to be worth more than Rs 3.5 crores along with other expensive items from a doctor couple's house in September, a surprising turn of events has occurred as the Income Tax department has stepped into the matter to ascertain how the doctor couple had amassed so much wealth.

The intervention of the IT department comes following the arrest of the fifth accused in the significant money heist case which has resulted in the recovery of a staggering amount of Rs 4.03 crore cash in total till now.

The discovery of the huge amount led the Ludhiana police to involve the income tax (I-T) department in the case to determine if there are more cash to be found and to ascertain the exact source of the amount that the doctor couple had in their possession before the robbery

Medical Dialogues reported in September that four masked men entered a doctor couple's house, threatened them at gunpoint, and robbed 3.5 crores in cash along with other expensive items.

Following this, the four persons were arrested under 392, 506, 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 25/54/59 of the Arms Act.

Also read- Ludhiana Doctor Couple Looted Of Rs 3.5 Crore, Jewellery By Masked Men At Gunpoint

Apart from the case, 271.35 gm gold jewellery, 88 gm silver jewellery, two cars and a 12-bore illegal country-made pistol were also recovered from the possession of the arrested accused in the case.

However, the victims in their complaint claimed that the accused robbed them of Rs 15 lakh cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh but when the police stepped in and conducted the investigation, Rs 3.51 crore in cash was recovered. 

After recovering the amount, the police continued their search for more cash and ultimately arrested the fifth accused and an additional cash was recovered. The current amount in total is Rs 4.03 crore. However, the police suspect that the amount could rise if the investigation continues. 

Hence, the IT department has informed that they will start an investigation into the case after the police conclude its probe. 

A senior I-T officer told the Indian Express “We have recorded the statements of both husband and wife. They are authorised immigration doctors dealing with Canada, Australia and the UK cases. They have admitted that around Rs 3 crore was robbed from their house. They have still not given us the exact figure. We are waiting for the police to conclude its probe following which we will start our proceedings.”

Addressing a press conference, then Ludhiana police commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu had said “Initially, they claimed a robbery of Rs 15-20 lakh only. The couple may have intentionally under-reported the actual amount fearing the I-T department. Even the accused were unaware that the cash was in crores.”

When asked about the cash, Inspector Madhu Bala, the SHO, stated that the money that has been recovered, along with the gold and silver jewellery, is currently still being held at the malkhana of Dugri police station.

She mentioned that they have not yet received any superdari order from the court, which would allow them to release the money and valuables to the couple. These items are considered case property. 

According to a source from the I-T department, they have already informed the police that the recovered amount cannot be released to the couple until the investigation is completed.

Also read- Health Ministry Official Robbed Of Mobile Phone, Cash In Central Delhi; 2 Held