Bengaluru, Nov 19 (NationPress) In response to the daylight heist in Bengaluru, where a group stole Rs 7.11 crore from a cash transport vehicle designated for ATM replenishment, Karnataka's Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, announced that they have acquired critical leads and are committed to apprehending the suspects, ensuring they won’t evade capture.

While addressing the media at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, he highlighted that details about cash deposits into ATMs had been leaked to the perpetrators.

He questioned, “Who is accountable for this? Who disseminated the information regarding cash deposits into the ATM? We are currently investigating whether any involved in depositing money had a hand in this crime. We are treating this incident with utmost seriousness.”

He remarked that such an audacious act occurring in broad daylight is unprecedented in Bengaluru. Over Rs 7 crore was taken. The vehicle's registration number and all pertinent details have been recorded. Ongoing inquiries are aimed at establishing whether the criminals are local or from outside the state.

In discussing the case, he noted that some information has surfaced, but not everything can be disclosed to the public as it may compromise the investigation. He firmly stated, “We will undoubtedly bring them to justice.”

It’s important to recall that this significant robbery took place in broad daylight in Bengaluru, where a gang made off with Rs 7.11 crore from a vehicle in charge of ATM cash loading.

The Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Seemanth Kumar Singh, has directed that the city be placed on high alert. Enhanced vehicle inspections have been ordered, particularly at the city’s borders, where barriers have been erected to prevent the suspects from fleeing Bengaluru.

Two additional police units and officers of DCP rank have been designated for this investigation. Authorities are also scrutinizing certain CMS (Cash Management Services) employees.

The incident transpired near South End Circle, where personnel were readying to load cash into an ATM. At that moment, a group of 7-8 men arrived in an Innova vehicle and confronted the staff.

Reportedly, the gang posed as RBI officials and intimidated the cash-handling team, forcibly removing the armed guard and other employees from the vehicle.

The driver was allegedly taken towards Dairy Circle by the gang. The vehicle was halted on the Dairy Circle flyover, where the robbers transferred the cash into their Innova car and fled.

CMS staff are currently being interrogated at Siddapur Police Station.

There were four CMS personnel in the vehicle — one driver, two armed guards, and one cash-loading employee. A fingerprint analysis team is present at the crime scene.

Initial investigations reveal that the CMS vehicle was parked near the ATM for cash loading when the robbery gang arrived in an Innova. They claimed to be from the RBI and stated they needed to inspect the vehicle.

Except for the driver, they forced all other employees into their Innova car. Two of the suspects accompanied the driver in the CMS vehicle, while the remaining CMS staff were taken in the Innova. They were driven a short distance away before being released from the car. On the Dairy Circle flyover, the gang transferred the cash from the CMS vehicle to the Innova.

The gang utilized a counterfeit number plate on the Innova for the robbery. The registration number KA 03 NC 8052 was affixed to the Innova, which actually belongs to a Swift car from Kalyan Nagar, police confirmed.

Reportedly, the cash vehicle staff informed authorities late after the incident, raising suspicions. Questions are being raised about why the armed guards did not utilize their firearms. All these angles are under thorough investigation.

Currently, the driver, two armed guards, and the cash-depositing employee are being interrogated at Siddapur Police Station.

“We will capture the suspects at the earliest,” stated City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh. There are reports suggesting the culprits may have fled towards Hosakote via Domlur, Marathahalli, and Whitefield localities in Bengaluru.

The robbery was executed with meticulous planning on the busy Dairy Circle flyover, an area with minimal pedestrian traffic, where vehicles typically move at high speeds. Even if a vehicle halts, it does not raise alarms, according to police.

Moreover, there are no CCTV cameras in this vicinity, making it difficult for a driver to make a swift escape from the location. Due to these factors, the culprits strategically selected the Dairy Circle flyover for the robbery. Authorities were informed 45 minutes to an hour post-incident, as per police statements.