Police have arrested an alleged kingpin of a sensational robbery that took place here in 2012 from Mumbai and recovered around 220 gm of gold ornaments worth Rs 5.5 lakh from him.
Anees Saghir Khan (32) was apprehended two days back for allegedly masterminding the robbery at a jewellery shop here last year.
Police had arrested three out of eight persons, including two Naval personnel, in connection with the heist on October 19, 2012, but failed to recover stolen booty from them.
They have been identified as Santosh Kumar Singh, Leading Seaman and Jagatha Ramakrishna, Chief Petty Officer and another person, Santosh Kumar Singh.
According to police, the Naval personnel had allegedly harboured the gang.
Addressing the media, Commissioner of Police B Shivadhar Reddy said some members of the inter-state gang of robbers had looted 600 gm gold and some silver ornaments from Nanditha Jewellery, located at Muralinagar area under Kancharapalem police station, by threatening shop owner R Venkata Rao and his staff with fire arms and sharp edged weapons on September 25, 2012.
Khan, who was from Mumbai, is a history-sheeter and has several cases including dacoity, kidnap and rape registered against him in various police stations in Mumbai.
He was convicted by a court in Nashik in Maharashtra in connection with a case.
During his stay at Nashik Central Prison, Khan befriended other inmates Manish Chouhan, James Almida and Mangesh Gaikward and hatched the conspiracy after their release in 2011, police said.
"It is found during investigation that Manish Chouhan, James Almida, Mangesh Gaikward, Shagir Khan, Shahid, Akra, Santhosh Kumar Singh and Jagata Rama Krishna committed the daylight robbery at the jewellery shop," Reddy said.
Four members of the gang are still absconding.
