Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 20: In a daring daylight robbery, a gang posing as RBI officials made off with approximately Rs 7.11 crore from a CMS ATM van on the Dairy Circle flyover in Bengaluru. The audacious heist has been registered as an FIR at Siddapura police station, with authorities treating it as one of the largest cash robberies in the city’s history.
CMS vehicle driver Binod recounting the shocking incident said, “Four of us were in the van when five men arrived in a car claiming to be from the RBI. They made the others board their car, but I was taken along in the CMS vehicle. They stopped the van on the Dairy Circle flyover, cut off my phone, and transferred all the cash to their Innova car before fleeing.”
Home minister Dr G Parmeshwara convened a meeting with senior police officials to oversee the investigation. “We will apprehend the culprits. We have just received a lead. We are investigating who provided the ATM cash delivery information and whether anyone involved in transporting the money had prior knowledge. The case is being treated with utmost seriousness,” the minister stated.
A special team under DCP Lokesh Jagalasar has been formed, and checkpoints have been set up across Bengaluru. Vehicle inspections are being carried out at all city entry and exit points in a bid to trace the suspects.
Preliminary inquiries reveal meticulous planning by the gang. The robbery site, on the Ashok Pillar–Siddapura Road stretch, reportedly had no CCTV coverage.
According to investigations, the ATM van was followed, forced to stop on the flyover, and the cash – over Rs 7 crore – was swiftly moved into an Innova getaway vehicle. Police were informed 45 minutes to an hour later, raising questions about reporting delays.
Police have released photographs of six suspects, including individuals with prior criminal records, and instructed officers to match them at all checkpoints. The getaway Innova, bearing the registration KA 03 NC 8052, was registered at Bengaluru East (Indiranagar) RTO in January 2018. The robbers used a false number plate from a Swift VDI model to evade detection. The vehicle was purchased from Garuda Auto Craft Ltd showroom and is registered in the name of P B Gangadharan.
The robbery occurred at 12:35 pm, and the CMS staff were prevented from reporting the incident as the robbers confiscated their mobile phones. Binod later contacted the RBI at 1:16 pm. CMS officials confirmed that the robbery was carried out between 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm, involving two gunmen, a driver, and a cash-handling staff member.
Bengaluru police have implemented citywide security measures, including checkpoints and inspections. The driver, two gunmen, and the cash-handling staff member are being interrogated.
Police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh assured that all efforts are underway to apprehend the suspects swiftly.