Seven Detained in India Following $800,000 Bank Heist Investigation

Post by : Raina Nasser

In Bengaluru, seven individuals were apprehended as police cracked an audacious robbery involving ₹70 million (approximately $800,000) taken from an ATM cash transport van. The incident unfolded three days ago, but law enforcement swiftly arrested the suspects and retrieved ₹57.6 million of the stolen sum.

According to the police, the thieves masqueraded as Reserve Bank of India officials to halt the cash van in Lalbagh during daylight. They falsely claimed to need to inspect paperwork for such a significant amount of money, subsequently forcing the cash custodian and two security guards into an SUV while one of the criminals commandeered the cash van.

Authorities further discovered that the gang utilized fake vehicle plates and strategically selected locations with minimal CCTV coverage to transport the cash. They even switched vehicles amid the heist to evade capture.

Among those taken into custody are Gopal Prasad, a worker for the cash transport service CMS, J Xavier, a former CMS employee, and Annappa Naik, a local police officer. The investigation remains open as police search for two or three additional suspects linked to the robbery.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh noted that over 200 police personnel collaborated across Karnataka and its neighboring states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa, to apprehend the criminals.

The investigation also extends to CMS, the cash transport agency, for any potential lapses in cash handling protocols. Commissioner Singh emphasized that cash vans should avoid predictable routes and schedules to reduce vulnerabilities to such criminal acts.

This incident underscores the necessity for enhanced security protocols for cash transport, aimed at preventing similar audacious crimes in the future. The police continue their efforts, hoping to identify and capture all individuals involved soon.