NELLORE: In a sensational development, police have arrested an Additional SP cadre officer, Samay John Rao Chikate, allegedly for his involvement in a robbery on the Navajeevan Express on May 14 at Chinapadugupadu village in Nellore district.

This is perhaps the first time that an IPS officer (conferred) is facing charges of robbery, conspiracy and violation of Indian Arms Act.

The accused is currently working as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for Anti- Naxal Operations (ANO) for Markapuram division in Prakasam district.

Superintendent of Police Gaja Rao Bhupal told reporters here on Monday that the accused was involved in a case in which two gold merchants were robbed of `86 lakh by three Armed Reserve (AR) constables - D Kiran Babu, C Ravi and T Siva Krishna, who also worked in the anti-naxal operations, by joining hands with an old offender Deva Nagaraju.

Gold merchants V S Sunil and V Ramaiah of Kavali of Nellore district were travelling in the Navajeevan Express to Chennai to purchase gold. During the journey, the three constables and Nagaraju asked them to get down from the train for questioning. Later, the merchants were taken to Prakasam district where they were robbed of the cash and thrown out of a car.

Nellore SP Bhupal said following information provided by the four accused about the involvement of Chikate, he was arrested.