LAHORE, Feb 24: Cash and valuables worth more than Rs32 million have so far been recovered from the accused who had in December last year taken away over Rs36.1 million salaries of Pakistan Railways Mughalpura Workshop employees.

“In a short span of time, we have not only nabbed the accused but also recovered most of the amount taken away in the biggest robbery in the city’s history,” Inspector-General Maj Zaheer Ahmad (retired) of the Pakistan Railways police said on Friday.

“Cash, gold and other valuables worth of Rs32,298,850 out of the total Rs36,106,207 have so far been recovered. Investigation is under way and some important revelations are expected,” the IG said in his maiden press conference.

No officer of the Mughalpura Workshop was found involved in the robbery.

The PR police party, which nabbed constable Nawaz from the clinic of a Bahawalpur doctor, would get the reward of Rs1 million, announced by the railways authorities on Dec 31 for information leading to the arrest of the accused.

“The accused has been booked under Section 395 PPC (robbery),” the IG said and added drivers Abid Mahmood and Ashfaq were arrested for abetment.

Accused Nawaz told newsmen he was the mastermind behind the robbery. Constable Saleem informed him that the cash had been put in the strong room of the pay office.

“I was on duty from 9pm to 12 midnight on Dec 28 at the pay office. Constable Shahbaz helped me break the locks of the strong room open while constable Saleem remained on guard outside. Driver Abid reached there according to the plan and we put the amount in the taxi and sent it to Mandi Dhaba Singh. I left with my family to Karachi in another taxi the same night. After two or three days, I came to Bahawalpur and bought a bungalow in the Gulghast Colony.