It initially looked like a perfectly executed robbery — a businessman’s car rammed on a dark road, windows smashed, an iron rod attack and a bag reportedly carrying more than ₹50 lakh disappearing within minutes. But as Jalandhar Police began piecing together the clues, the robbery story took an unexpected turn. The alleged mastermind was not a stranger. He was someone who had been working with the businessman’s family for around three years.
The Robbery That Left Police With Questions
The incident took place around 7:50 pm on Monday on the 120-Feet Road near Surya Enclave Extension. Sixty-year-old iron trader Lalit Mittal was returning home from his office on Tanda Road when he allegedly noticed a white car following him. What happened next appeared to be a planned street robbery.
The car allegedly moved ahead of Mittal’s vehicle and signalled him to stop. Suspicious, Mittal reportedly tried to reverse. The suspects then allegedly rammed their vehicle into his car, cornering him. Three men reportedly stepped out carrying iron rods. The windows of Mittal’s vehicle were smashed and he was allegedly struck on the forehead. Within moments, the attackers reportedly grabbed a bag containing cash from beneath the passenger seat and fled.
At first, the case appeared to be a straightforward armed robbery But investigators were looking for one thing: How did the robbers know?
The Question That Changed the Investigation
The attackers appeared to know when Mittal would be travelling, which route he would take and that he would have a substantial amount of cash with him.
That raised a crucial question for investigators — was someone close to the businessman feeding information to the robbers? This is where the investigation reportedly began to move in a completely different direction.
CP Satinder Singh Takes Personal Charge
Jalandhar Commissioner of Police Satinder Singh reportedly took personal charge of the investigation as officers began reconstructing the events leading up to the robbery. Instead of looking only at the crime scene, investigators reportedly started working backwards.
They examined CCTV footage, call histories, mobile phone locations and the movements of people connected with the businessman. Every movement and communication was reportedly examined against the timeline of the robbery. The investigation gradually began revealing details that allegedly pointed towards someone who knew the family well.
The Driver Who Knew the Routine
The alleged mastermind, according to the latest information emerging from the investigation, was Mittal’s own driver. The driver had reportedly been working with the businessman’s family for around three years. His familiarity with the family meant he allegedly knew the businessman’s routine, movements and other details that could help someone plan an attack.
Investigators reportedly suspect that the driver passed crucial information to the robbers and worked with two of his relatives to plan the heist.
But There Was Another Twist
If the driver was behind the robbery, there was one obvious question:
Where was he when the attack happened?
According to the information available so far, he was not at the robbery spot. Instead, at the time Mittal was allegedly attacked on the 120-Feet Road, the driver was reportedly with Mittal’s wife in Model Town for shopping. The absence from the crime scene may have helped create the appearance that he had nothing to do with the robbery.
However, investigators reportedly began connecting the dots through call records, mobile locations and CCTV footage.
Three Arrests Change the Case
The driver has reportedly been arrested along with two of his relatives. The investigation now centres on how the alleged conspiracy was planned, how information about Mittal’s movements reached the robbers and what role each of the accused played.
The latest arrests have transformed the case from an apparent random attack by armed robbers into an alleged inside job involving someone trusted by the victim’s family.
What Happened to the ₹72 Lakh?
Another major question remains — where is the stolen money? Sources have reportedly indicated that around ₹40–45 lakh may have been recovered from the accused. However, police have not officially confirmed the recovery or the exact amount recovered so far.
