The driver arrested for allegedly masterminding a robbery at his employer’s house in Narendrapur, where he had worked for 10 years, suffers from a “serious illness” and apparently decided to rob the family after they refused to help him financially citing ongoing repairs at home, police said.
The driver allegedly robbed the cash that was kept for the payment of labourers engaged in the repair and renovation work.
Swarnadeep Bhattacharya, the accused, has purportedly told the police that he had no intention to rob his employer — 67-year-old Brindavan Singha Roy, who was tied up and gagged by the robbers — till he refused the driver the money he urgently needed for his treatment.
Singha Roy was alone in the house at Mission Pally, on the southern fringes of the city, when the gang struck. His wife and son were in Burdwan to attend a family programme.
Singha Roy mentioned in the complaint lodged with Narendrapur police station that the robbers had taken away jewellery and more than Rs 3 lakh in cash.
“Bhattacharya knew that his employer had considerable cash on him which he had kept for the payment of the labourers hired for the ongoing repairs at the house. So he had instructed his associates to target the cash and whatever gold jewellery that could be found,” said an officer at the police station.
“The driver, in his 40s, is suffering from a serious illness. We have decided against taking him in custody so his treatment is not hampered. But the case will proceed according to law,” said the deputy superintendent of police, enforcement branch, Baruipur police, Mohit Mollah.
Sources in the police said Bhattacharya has at least two criminal cases pending against him. He has been charged under IPC sections related to theft in those cases.
Bhattacharya’s alleged associates, who had robbed the house, had their faces covered. “After tying Singha Roy’s hands and gagging him, they held a knife at his neck and threatened to murder him if he raised an alarm,” the police said.
When they left, Singha Roy managed to free himself and screamed for help. Neighbours came to his rescue and some of them chased caught one of the suspects.
“One gold chain and two earrings were recovered from the man who was arrested from the spot. Based on his statements, Bhattacharya was rounded up,” an officer said.
Cops suspect at least two or three more people were involved in the heist.