Businessman robbed of Rs 2 crore while converting it to dollars

BENGALURU: A group of 6-7 people robbed Rs 2 crore from a businessman in broad daylight who had gone to convert Indian currency to dollars at AK Enterprises in MS Palya, in Vidyaranyapura police station limits.

The victim Sriharsha, an engineer and resident of Kengeri, had collected Rs 2 crore from friends to start a cold-pressed oil business and was planning to import machinery from Germany. He was introduced to Benjamin, who offered to exchange rupees for US dollars.

Benjamin asked Sriharsha to come to MS Palya Circle in Vidyaranyapura with the cash. Sriharsha, along with his friends Nagendra and Shanthakumar went in Shanthakumar’s Swift car and went to AK Enterprises, a shop near MS Palya Circle. While Benjamin and two other people were counting the cash, a group of 6 to 7 people suddenly barged in, threatened them by holding knives at their necks, decamped with all the money and four mobile phones.

Benjamin and his friends also ran away as they were coming out of the AK Enterprises office. Suspicious, Harsha filed a complaint with the Vidyaranyapura police. The police have been intensively questioning Benjamin and his two friends.

Preliminary findings suggest that Sriharsha might have planned the robbery with his gang to siphon off the Rs 2 crore. The police are also investigating how much money was involved. They have seized the CCTV and DVR and are searching for the robbers.