Muzaffarpur: Two armed criminals looted a little over Rs 37 lakh from the employee of a private agency who was ferrying cash from some malls to a bank near Club Road under Mithanpura police station, 75km from Patna, on Monday.

Police said Ajeet Kumar Singh, employee of CMS, the agency, was going to deposit Rs 37 lakh from two malls to Bank of India'sSaraiyaganj branch, when criminals intercepted him at gunpoint near Club Road around 11.10am. They fired at him but he was not hit. Ajeet dumped the bags and fled in his bike. The robbers snatched the bags in full public view and fled in their bikes towards Mithanpura-Bela road. They also fired indiscriminately in the air to stop eyewitnesses from giving chase.

Superintendent of police (SP) City Upendra Nath Verma and DSP Town Ashish Anand inspected the scene of crime. DSP Anand said Ajeet is being quizzed. "It is gross negligence and carelessness that a single security guard was carrying cash on a bike," said the DSP. "The issue will be taken up for discussion with the bank authorities. Themalls, too, should have informed the police and sought security escorts."

The police picked up five empty cartridges from the place. CCTV footage is being checked for clues. It seems the criminals had done a recce before committing the crime. "Two men on a bike were seen doing several rounds of Club Road half an hour before the crime," the DSP said. An FIR has been lodged with the Mithanpura police station. Raids are on to nab the criminals.