In a major breakthrough, the Bengaluru City Police arrested three persons, including a police constable, within 50 hours of a daring daylight ATM cash van robbery that occurred on 19 November. The swift action led to the recovery of ₹5.7 crore out of the stolen ₹7.11 crore, giving investigators a significant head start as they continue to trace the remaining suspects.

Three arrested, including police constable

According to senior officials, the arrested accused have been identified as police constable Annappa Naik, cash van fleet in-charge Gopal Prasad, and J. Xavier, a former employee of the cash transport company. Their alleged involvement is believed to be part of a larger conspiracy, with police estimating that over 30 individuals may have been connected to the plot in various capacities.

Officers confirmed that the trio had planned the heist over a period of three months, during which they carried out multiple reconnaissance visits to identify routes with little or no CCTV surveillance. Their insider knowledge of cash movement procedures is suspected to have enabled the meticulously executed robbery.

Stolen cash recovered and suspects detained

Following the incident, the police detained around 30 people for questioning based on technical evidence, call records, and local intelligence inputs. After sustained interrogation, the three prime suspects were arrested, and ₹5.7 crore of the stolen amount was recovered.

Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh praised the investigating team and announced a cash reward of ₹5 lakh for cracking the case at high speed.

Modus operandi: Impersonation, fake vehicle numbers, and no phones

Investigators revealed that the gang used sophisticated methods to evade detection. On the day of the heist, the accused allegedly posed as RBI officials and intercepted a CMS Info System Ltd. cash van, which was transporting cash from a private bank in J.P. Nagar for refilling ATMs.

Claiming that they needed to “verify documents,” the gang convinced the vehicle staff to step out and subsequently forced them into their own car, along with the cash boxes. The group then drove towards Dairy Circle, where the staff were abandoned before the robbers fled with the cash.

The police noted several operational challenges, including:

  • The accused using routes with no CCTV coverage
  • Switching between vehicles with fake registration numbers
  • Avoiding mobile phones to prevent digital tracking
  • Executing the plan during daylight to avoid suspicion

These factors initially delayed the investigation; however, over 200 policemen were deployed across the city and outskirts to track down the suspects using alternative leads, including manual surveillance and ground-level intelligence.

Ongoing search for remaining suspects

Authorities stated that several members involved in the planning and execution are still on the run. Special teams have been formed and dispatched in different directions, with interrogations suggesting that the network may include individuals with knowledge of cash-handling systems.

The police believe that additional arrests will be made soon, and efforts are underway to recover the remaining portion of the stolen amount.

Conclusion

The swift arrests and recovery of a substantial portion of the stolen money have provided relief in what was one of the most daring cash heists Bengaluru has witnessed in recent years. As the search for the remaining suspects intensifies, the police have reiterated their commitment to bringing all involved to justice and restoring confidence in the city’s security mechanisms surrounding cash transport operations.