A motorcyclist alerted a traffic police team about some trouble around a taxi on Dhakuria bridge early on Friday.

The police team was rushing towards the bridge when they met the taxi driver. He told them he was robbed by three men on a scooter.

The police found the three men arguing at the landing of the bridge near the Panchanantala bus stand.

When questioned, one of them said he was walking along the bridge when he saw the other two on a scooter trying to rob the taxi driver. He claimed he rescued the driver.

The other two said they were riding along the bridge when they saw the third man trying to snatch money from the taxi driver. The duo claimed they saved the driver.

Finding the claims suspicious, the cops handed the three over to Lake police station.

It emerged that minutes before the incident on the bridge, the trio had tried to raid the Gariahat outlet of Spencer’s and fled after assaulting the security guard.

Around 7.15am, inspector Moloy Roy, additional officer in-charge of south east traffic guard, and sergeant Anupam Majhi were patrolling near Dakshinapan shopping complex when they were alerted about the commotion on Dhakuria bridge.

Before they reached the spot, they saw a taxi coming in their direction. Driver Kishan Singh, 65, told them three men on a scooter had robbed him. He showed his torn chest pocket.

The cops continued their journey and found three young men on a scooter near the Panchanantala bus stop, arguing. “One said the other two were on the scooter and robbed the driver. The other two said the third person attacked the driver for money,” an officer said.

Soon after the cops handed the trio over to Lake police station, Spencer’s reported the incident at their outlet. It emerged that the same trio had allegedly tried to forcefully enter the store while it was closed and assaulted the security guard when stopped.

Two of the accused are teenagers and the third is in his 20s.

Lake and Gariahat police stations have registered two separate cases — one for snatching and the other for assault and wrongful restraint of the security guard.