LUCKNOW, July 22 -- What began as a seemingly lucrative business deal ended in a carefully planned robbery for a Thakurganj trader, who was lured to a secluded stretch along the Gomti with Rs.2.5 lakh in cash after being promised disposable goods at throwaway prices. "Within 24 hours of the crime, the Madehganj police team arrested three members of the gang, recovered Rs.1.92 lakh of the stolen money and identified a fourth accused who remains absconding," said ADCP (Central) JK Dubey. The ADCP said that Mahendra Kumar, who runs a disposable plates and packaging material shop at Ekta Nagar crossing in Thakurganj, had been approached a few days earlier by a man identifying himself as "Sheikh". Claiming to be a wholesale dealer of plastic sheets and disposable items with a warehouse near Pakka Pul in Madehganj, the man offered to supply goods worth around Rs.2.5 lakh at unusually low rates. "Believing the offer, Kumar reached Pakka Pul on July 20 carrying Rs.2.5 lakh. After speaking to the caller over the phone, he was directed to Bandha Road near Sanjhia Ghat, where two other men were already waiting," said ACP Mahanagar Ankit Kumar. "As soon as Kumar opened the storage compartment of his motorcycle to take out the cash, the trio allegedly snatched the bag containing the money and fled," added Kumar. An FIR was registered at Madeyganj police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and multiple police teams were formed to crack the case. SHO Anuj Kumar Tiwari said, "The three accused - Mohan Sheikh (38), Sohail (29) and Rakib (28) - were arrested from beneath Pakka Pul on Tuesday morning. Police said the fourth accused, Anwar, allegedly acted as a lookout during the robbery and escaped with part of the looted cash when the gang later assembled to divide the money. Raids are underway to arrest him. Police are also verifying whether the accused were involved in similar offences in Lucknow or other states....