BENGALURU: Police investigating the sensational Rs 7 crore cash van robbery, in which a gang posing as Central Government tax officers intercepted a CMS vehicle in broad daylight, have uncovered crucial new leads that are helping them narrow down the suspects. Fresh clues from CCTV analysis, combined with matches to past offenders, have strengthened the possibility that an organised gang with previous robbery links may be behind the heist.
CCTV trail links suspect to past offender
Investigators revealed that one of the accused has likely been identified after CCTV footage from Jayanagar and Dairy Circle was matched with photographs of a previously arrested robber. This match has given the probe a significant breakthrough, with teams now exploring whether the same gang is responsible for the attack on the CMS cash management vehicle.
Police sources said CCTV footage shows the suspects conducting a recce near the Dairy Circle flyover two days before the robbery. They were spotted drinking at a bar in the locality, moving around the area for several minutes before leaving. Their movements on the night of the recce suggested careful planning, with the men avoiding regions with dense camera coverage.
Accused monitored area before the robbery
On November 17, the day of the crime, CCTV cameras captured the suspects roaming around the stretch between the bar and the Dairy Circle flyover. They arrived on a bike, had tea at a nearby shop, and moved through the locality before leaving. These details, extracted from extensive scrutiny of footage, have helped police map out the suspects’ movements.
Siddhapura Police, assisted by teams from all city divisions and the Central Crime Branch (CCB), are now conducting a citywide manhunt. Officers are checking visuals from hundreds of cameras across South Bengaluru to track the gang’s route before and after the heist.
How the Rs 7 crore robbery unfolded
The CMS cash van had been loaded with Rs 7 crore at the HDFC Bank office in JP Nagar. CCTV footage shows the vehicle exiting the bank premises at 11.54am. Within 30 minutes, the van was intercepted near Ashoka Pillar in Jayanagar.
According to investigators, a grey Innova blocked the van. Claiming to be Central Government tax officers, the robbers told the CMS staff they needed to examine the cash and check documents. Once the staff cooperated, the gang quickly seized control of the vehicle, forced the employees into the Innova along with the cash boxes, and drove towards Dairy Circle.
A short while later, the staff were dropped off on the Dairy Circle flyover. By the time they alerted police, the gang had escaped with the money. Officers suspect that the robbers fled using the Bannerghatta Road route, where multiple exit points made tracing their vehicle challenging.
Investigators check links to older ATM robbery gang
Police are investigating whether the grey Innova used in the heist is connected to previous ATM robbery cases in the city. Teams are examining vehicle movement patterns between Jayanagar and Bannerghatta Road, analysing mobile tower dumps, and checking for similarities in modus operandi with older unsolved crimes.
Checkpoints across South Bengaluru have been intensified, and police are verifying vehicles matching the Innova’s description. The CCB is also revisiting past suspects linked to cash van robberies and high-value thefts.
Conclusion
Officers said the probe is progressing swiftly, with the CCTV match to a known offender offering a major lead. As teams track mobile activity, vehicle routes and other digital trails, police believe they are closing in on the identities of the culprits. The investigation continues, and more details are expected as additional CCTV and technical data are analysed.