BENGALURU: A voracious eater stopping only at half a chapati was the clue that helped policesolve a Rs 23-lakh robbery case that took place earlier this month.

On Monday morning, officers of the Bengaluru east division announced the arrest of five men, who robbed Rs 23 lakh from a merchant from Kerala, Haneef, during his visit to Bengaluru to purchase bulk cigarettes.

The case was solved when the prime suspect, Mohan, came under police radar. The man, known for his appetite, showed his nerves by eating just half a chapati. A few grilling sessions later, Mohan was singing, leading to his and his four accomplices' arrest. For over six months, Haneef and his colleagues used to visit the city on business. The bulk orders of cigarettes used to cost around Rs 25lakh based on the quantity .

“They used to carry the cash, keeping it under the seat of the pickup truck they used to commute from Kerala. They would come early and wait outside Vijay Agency , from where they purchased the goods,“ said N Sateesh Kumar, DCP , east.

On November 11, Haneef and an associate were waiting outside the agency around 7am. Suddenly , a group of men attacked them and fled with the money kept under the seats. “During investigation, one of our inspectors felt suspicious about Mohan, the middleman who introduced these merchants to this agency ,“ Sateesh said.

To confirm their doubt, the merchants were asked to go out with Mohan for lunch. “The man who used to eat a lot, ate only half a chapati that day and he was sweating throughout. This was the lead.Mohan was picked up and during interrogation, confessed,“ Sateesh added. Later his associates Chandrashekar, Anil Kumar, Naveen and a minor were held.

