Cash van loot case: Key accused injured in police encounter in Masaurhi, accomplice arrested

Patna: Police on Wednesday morning injured a wanted interstate criminal in an encounter and arrested his accomplice in Masaurhi police station area in connection with the May 13 cash van robbery in which Rs 27 lakh was looted.

The injured accused has been identified as Ajay Paswan alias Badal, a resident of Darbespur under Maner police station. He sustained a bullet injury in his leg during the encounter and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital under the police custody. His associate, Ajay Kumar Yadav alias Shravan alias Chhotu, a native of Maduatadh under Jhumri Tilaiya police station in Jharkhand’s Koderma, was arrested from the spot.

According to police, a joint team of Bihar STF and Patna police launched a raid following specific intelligence inputs that the accused were planning to loot a gold and silver showroom in the Masaurhi area. Police teams cordoned off the area, after which the criminals allegedly opened fire. In retaliatory firing carried out in self-defence, Badal suffered a bullet injury in his leg.

Patna SP (East) Parichay Kumar said the encounter took place around 4.20am. “Both arrested criminals have more than 20 cases each. They have an interstate criminal record spanning Bihar and Jharkhand. We are verifying their criminal antecedents,” he said.

He added that the police had been tracking the gang and received inputs about their possible movement for a robbery during the night. “As the police team approached, the criminals opened fire and shot two rounds, one of which hit the police vehicle. Police fired in retaliation in self-defence, injuring one of them,” Kumar said.

Police recovered a country-made pistol, a desi katta, four live cartridges, two spent cartridges, a magazine, and a motorcycle from the spot. A case has been registered at Masaurhi police station and further investigation is underway.

The encounter is linked to the daylight robbery on May 13 when armed criminals looted Rs 27 lakh from a cash van in Gopalpur area of Patna. Police said Badal had played a key role in the crime. This is the second encounter in connection with the case. Earlier, another accused, Nitish Kumar, was shot in the leg and arrested along with two associates on May 19.

Police said Badal is a history-sheeter with around 16 serious cases, including murder, robbery, dacoity, and Arms Act violations, registered in Bihar and Jharkhand. His record includes multiple bank robberies and murder cases. Chhotu, too, has around 20 criminal cases across several districts of Bihar.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Bakrid wishes, messages and eid 2026