Lucknow, November 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested six alleged members of an inter-state robbery syndicate, including its suspected mastermind, and recovered Rs 48.45 lakh in cash during an operation in Lucknow, officials said on Sunday.
The arrested accused have been identified as Dinesh Chandra Yadav alias Chhotu, described by the STF as the gang’s mastermind, Saurabh Yadav, Aman alias Raman Yadav, Saurabh Dixit, Mohit Kanoujia and Gyan Singh.
The arrests were made around 1.50 a.m. near the entrance of a cricket academy under the Sahara Bridge in the Gomti Nagar police station area. According to officials, the STF had received intelligence that gang members were gathering to distribute proceeds from their robberies ahead of Diwali.
Investigators said the syndicate targeted cash couriers transporting money for spice and agricultural commodity traders between Gujarat and Lucknow. The gang allegedly tracked the couriers’ movements through an informant and conducted reconnaissance before intercepting them.
According to the STF, the accused would deliberately ram a car into the couriers’ two-wheelers, forcing them to fall. Yadav allegedly threatened the victims with a pistol while other gang members assaulted them with iron rods and wooden sticks before fleeing with bags containing cash.
The recovered amount included Rs 12.50 lakh from Yadav, Rs 10.90 lakh from Saurabh Yadav, Rs 11.10 lakh from Aman Yadav, Rs 5.75 lakh from Dixit, Rs 4.20 lakh from Kanoujia and Rs 4 lakh from Gyan Singh.
The STF also seized an illegal .32-bore pistol with a magazine and two live cartridges, two vehicles, a motorcycle allegedly used for reconnaissance, seven mobile phones and identity documents, driving licences and PAN cards belonging to victims and other associates.
The agency said interrogation had linked the accused to several major robbery cases in Lucknow. Further investigation is underway to establish their alleged involvement in other incidents.
A case has been registered at Gomti Nagar police station under Case Crime No. 491/2026. The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.
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