Three persons dodged the lens of a CCTV camera and stole Rs 26 lakh from employees of a Patna City businessman on Friday morning.

The incident was reported from the Langoor Gali area under Chowk police station. Manish Kumar, 35, runs an iron and steel business as well as a printing press from his one-storeyed house in the locality. Around 11.20am on Friday, two of his employees were on their way to a bank 1km from the house to deposit the cash when they were stopped by three men who had their homework in place.

An officer said: "Manish runs his business from his one-storeyed house. It seems the criminals knew there was cash in the house and it would be deposited in the bank on Friday. The businessman has a CCTV camera installed at the front gate but they had done a recce of the house, as they chose a spot to wait just away from the CCTV camera's angle. The men fled with the money 40ft from Manish's residence."

The Patna police headquarters, acting fast, suspended Mritunjay Kumar Singh, the Chowk police station house officer, on charges of negligence in duty. The deputy superintendent of police (Patna City), Rajesh Kumar, has been directed to investigate the case.

Officers probing into the case said Manish's employees, Sanjay Mishra and Ramanand, had started from the house with the bag containing Rs 26 lakh at 11.20 am.

DSP Rajesh said: "There are many banks within a kilometre of the house and the two went on foot to one of them to deposit the cash. As they came out of the main door and took a turn, two men on a bike pounced on them. There were three men in all - two on a black bike and another on foot. The pillion rider snatched the bag at gunpoint and all three men fled the spot."

He added: "The victims took a while to react. There is a strong suspicion about an insider too but investigations are on. The CCTV camera footage is also being checked. The family members and relatives are being questioned and the employees quizzed for a description of the men."