Autorickshaw robbery: Accused driver nabbed from UP

New Delhi: An autorickshaw driver who allegedly robbed a family following a mishap in which a 45- year-old man died and his wife and son received severe injuries has been arrested from Uttar Pradesh, police said today.

The accused driver, identified as Mohammed Umar (22), fled to his village in Amroha district of UP after the incident at west Delhi’s Janakpuri on Saturday last, police said, adding that he was arrested yesterday.

The owner of the autorickshaw, one Mohammed Shahnawaj (43), too, has been arrested for allegedly destroying evidence and getting the vehicle repaired without informing the police about the matter, said Joint Commissioner of Police (Southwest), Dependra Pathak.

“It is suspected that Umar and Shahnawaz are members of a racket for robbing people through staging ‘pre-planned’ accidents. The probe in this matter is underway,” added Pathak.

Subodh Srivastava, an engineer posted to the city, succumbed to his injuries while his wife, Sushma, and son were injured when the autorickshaw they had booked to take them to their west Delhi residence overturned after hitting a Metro pillar near Vikaspuri area.

In her complaint, Sushma told police that the autorickshaw was recklessly driven. Reaching near Janakpuri Metro station, the three-wheeler hit a divider and overturned, leaving Subodh severely injured while the driver, Umar, fled the spot with the trio’s luggage.

Sushma thereupon called the police control room and the family were rushed to DDU hospital where Subodh succumbed to his injuries the next day, said police.

Police claimed to have questioned more than 300 autorickshaw drivers and checked 500 autorickshaws for leads into the probe. Umar was spotted in CCTV grabs and Sushma identified him, police added.