Hyderabad police nab three in Bengaluru ₹7.1 crore ATM van heist
HYDERABAD: Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) officers, with help from Hyderabad police, arrested three men in the city for allegedly stealing ₹7.1 crore from a cash-replenishment van last week. Police recovered ₹53 lakh from them and took the trio back to Bengaluru for further inquiry.
Ex-employee, constable planned the robbery
According to investigators, CMS Cash Management Services handles cash loading at several ATMs in Bengaluru. Xavier, a former employee of the company, and Anandappa Naik, a constable attached to the Govindapuram police station, allegedly planned to steal a cash van.
Naik reportedly roped in CMS employee Gopal Prasad and his friends Naveen, Nelson and Ravi. While three stayed behind the scenes, Naveen, Nelson and Ravi allegedly executed the robbery.
Gang posed as police near Dairy Circle
Police said the trio tailed the CMS cash van from the company office and waited for an opportunity. On Wednesday, they intercepted the vehicle near the Dairy Circle flyover, convinced the staff that they were police personnel, and fled with ₹7.1 crore.
CMS staff approached police nearly two hours later. CCB teams analysed CCTV footage and used human intelligence inputs to crack the case. Xavier and Naik were arrested on Friday. During questioning, they revealed that the three executors had travelled to Hyderabad by car and were carrying ₹55 lakh for expenses.
Cops tracked suspects to Nampally
A special CCB team rushed to Hyderabad and sought assistance from city police. Joint teams collected CCTV footage from several locations and learnt that the trio had checked into a lodge in Nampally.
When the teams raided the lodge, the suspects had already left. Police then split into four groups and searched MGBS, JBS, Secunderabad railway station and Nampally railway station.
The three were finally found on a platform at Nampally railway station after purchasing tickets to Mumbai. Officers recovered ₹53 lakh from them and handed the accused over to the visiting CCB team. Bengaluru police later arrested Gopal Prasad, who was absconding.
