Unidentified men snatch bag as employee waits for client

An employee of a foreign exchange firm was allegedly robbed of $3,500 on Thursday evening, while he was waiting to hand over the money to a client.

According to Santacruz police, the incident took place at 6.10 p.m. on Craft Road in Santacruz. The police said that the complainant, Vishnukumar Mali (22), was employed with a foreign exchange firm based in Bandra, and was routinely assigned the task of delivering currency to clients who were unable to collect it from the firm’s office.

An officer with Santacruz police said: “Mali’s firm had received an order for $3,500 over the phone. The client said that he would hand over the equivalent Indian currency if someone from the office came to meet him in Santacruz. Mali was sent with the money and he reached the specified spot at 6 p.m.” Mali, in his complaint, told the police that he was waiting on his motorcycle for the client when he was accosted by two unidentified men.

Senior Police Inspector Shantanu Pawar, Santacruz police station, said, “The men assaulted Mr. Mali with a blunt object and he sustained injuries to his face. In the scuffle, the men snatched the bag in which he was carrying the currency, and fled the scene.”

Mr. Mali immediately called the police control room and also informed his employer about the incident. He later registered a complaint with the Santacruz police, who have booked a case against the unidentified persons for robbery under the Indian Penal Code.

An officer who is part of the investigation said that several angles, including robbery being masterminded by the client or an employee at the foreign exchange firm are being examined. The officer said, “We are unable to reach the person who placed the order. We are verifying if he could have placed the order specifically so that the currency could be robbed.”