Bengaluru police have arrested five people, including the complainant’s driver, for allegedly abducting and robbing a businessman of ₹1.09 crore in a meticulously planned heist in northern Bengaluru.

The accused have been identified as Chetan, Surya, Basava, Soma and Vinaya. Police said the robbery took place on the night of June 15 and was allegedly orchestrated with inside information provided by the victim’s driver.

Driver leaked cash movement details

According to investigators, Chetan, who worked as the driver of 41-year-old businessman RI Shivashankar, informed his associates that his employer would be transporting a large amount of cash.

Shivashankar, who runs the D-360 Security Agency in Yeshwantpur, was allegedly intercepted while travelling, assaulted and abducted before being taken to a forested area near Kuduregere Colony off Kunigal Road.

The gang allegedly robbed him of ₹74 lakh, which he had reportedly collected from a hotel in Yelahanka.

Family forced to hand over more cash

Police said the accused also forced Shivashankar to call his wife and instruct her to hand over another ₹35 lakh kept at their residence.

In total, the gang allegedly escaped with ₹1.09 crore.

During the investigation, police learnt that Shivashankar had reportedly collected the money from associates in Andhra Pradesh to establish a company named American Nuclear Research Centre (ANRC).

Police recover ₹85.5 lakh

Police registered a case of abduction and robbery and launched an intensive investigation.

On June 20, one of the suspects was arrested near Bagepalli in Chikkaballapur district with ₹4 lakh in cash and a car. Based on his interrogation, police tracked down the remaining accused.

Investigators recovered ₹85.5 lakh, a toy pistol, three mobile phones and two cars allegedly used in the crime. Efforts are continuing to trace the remaining accused and recover the rest of the stolen money.

Probe into source of cash

Police said all the accused were friends who allegedly planned the robbery in search of quick money, as none of them had stable employment. Three of the ten suspects are reportedly history-sheeters.

Investigators are also probing the source of the cash, suspecting it may be linked to another offence. Officials further revealed that Shivashankar is being verified for his criminal background, including a cheating case registered against him last year by the VV Puram police involving antique tumblers.

The arrested accused have been remanded to judicial custody, while further investigation is underway.