Pune: A total of Rs 25.61 lakh cash was looted from staff of a cash management firm in Yamuna Nagar locality of Nigdi on Thursday. 
The cash belonged to Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and the robbery took place opposite their office.

According to Nigdi police, the incident took place at 1.35 pm. Mahesh Ramchandra Patne (54), the custodian, and driver Bhausaheb Chakale had gone to collect the cash from the LIC office. While Patne, who was carrying the cash bag, was getting into the van, two men approached him on a two-wheeler. Two others on another bike were standing nearby. One of them tried to snatch the bag. When Patne resisted, one of the accused attacked him with a sharp weapon and snatched the bag which contained Rs 22.51 lakh of LIC Yamuna Nagar office and Rs 2.78 lakh of LIC Akurdi office and Rs 31,276 of another firm.

Patne sustained injuries on the wrist, palm and abdomen. He is admitted in a private hospital. After getting information, senior police officers including DCP (Zone 3) Ganesh Shinde and Crime Branch ACP Bhanupratap Barge rushed to the spot. 

“The robbers had information about cash collection time. We suspect an insider’s role and are trying to identify them with the help of CCTV footage,” a police officer said.