Hyderabad ATM cash van driver, two sons held for ₹17 lakh theft
Synopsis
A Hyderabad ATM cash van driver used insider knowledge to steal ₹17 lakh while his colleagues loaded an SBI ATM — then handed ₹10 lakh to his Swiggy-delivery son waiting in another part of the city. Police recovered ₹14.55 lakh and arrested all three within 48 hours, in a case that lays bare the insider-threat risk in India's cash logistics chain.
Key Takeaways
Chirra Srinivas , driver of an ATM cash van, stole ₹17 lakh from his employer near the SBI ATM, Edi Bazar, Hyderabad on 23 June 2025 .
His sons Chirra Anish and Chirra Jaswanth , both Swiggy delivery associates, aided the theft and received ₹10 lakh of the stolen cash.
Police recovered ₹14.55 lakh in cash, the motorbike used in the crime, and four mobile phones .
All three were arrested within 48 hours by the Commissioner's Task Force, Charminar Zone Team, and IS Sadan Police.
A case under Section 303(3) of the BNS has been registered at IS Sadan police station .
Hyderabad police have arrested an ATM cash van driver and his two sons for allegedly stealing ₹17 lakh from a cash replenishment vehicle near an SBI ATM in the Edi Bazar area on 23 June 2025. The accused were nabbed two days after the theft, with police recovering ₹14.55 lakh in cash along with the motorbike used in the offence.
How the Theft Unfolded
The prime accused, Chirra Srinivas, worked as a driver for Cleared Security Services Pvt Ltd and was part of a team assigned to replenish the SBI ATM at Edi Bazar. According to police, Srinivas — facing financial difficulties — hatched the plan in advance and roped in his sons.
On 23 June, while his colleagues were busy loading cash into the ATM, Srinivas slipped away with a cash bag and walked to a nearby lane. His son Chirra Anish, who had been instructed to wait nearby on a motorbike, picked him up and the two fled the scene. The getaway was captured on CCTV footage that police later scanned to identify the suspects.
The Family Connection
After fleeing, the duo met the second son, Chirra Jaswanth, in Peerzadiguda, where Srinivas handed him ₹10 lakh from the stolen money. Both Anish and Jaswanth work as delivery associates for Swiggy. Srinivas and Anish reportedly roamed the city and spent a portion of the remaining cash before their arrest.
Arrests and Recovery
Acting on a tip-off, the Commissioner's Task Force, Charminar Zone Team, and IS Sadan Police arrested Srinivas and Anish at Bownepally. Based on information they provided, Jaswanth was subsequently arrested at Peerzadiguda. Police recovered ₹14.55 lakh in net cash, the motorbike used in the crime, and four mobile phones.
What the Police Said
Khare Kiran Prabhakar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Charminar Zone, announced the arrests at a press conference on Thursday. A case under Section 303(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at the IS Sadan police station. The complaint was filed by Bantupalli Suresh, Cash Custodian at Cleared Security Services Pvt Ltd, who reported the theft on the day it occurred.
The case highlights the vulnerability of cash logistics operations to insider threats, with the accused exploiting his position and knowledge of ATM-loading procedures to execute the theft. Investigators are looking into whether any additional accomplices were involved.
Point of View
But the ₹2.45 lakh gap between the stolen amount and the recovered cash signals that some money was already spent — underscoring why deterrence, not just detection, needs to improve. As ATM cash replenishment is increasingly outsourced to private security firms, regulators and banks should revisit accountability frameworks for field-level staff.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Hyderabad ATM cash van theft case?
Hyderabad police arrested Chirra Srinivas , the driver of an ATM cash replenishment van, along with his two sons Chirra Anish and Chirra Jaswanth . All three were arrested within 48 hours of the theft, which occurred on 23 June 2025.
How much cash was stolen and how much was recovered?
The accused stole ₹17 lakh from the cash van near the SBI ATM at Edi Bazar, Hyderabad. Police recovered a net amount of ₹14.55 lakh , with the remaining cash reportedly spent by the accused before their arrest.
How did the Hyderabad police catch the accused so quickly?
Police scanned CCTV footage from the area, which showed Srinivas taking the cash bag and fleeing on a motorbike with his son Anish. Acting on a tip-off, the Commissioner's Task Force and IS Sadan Police arrested Srinivas and Anish at Bownepally, and then tracked down Jaswanth at Peerzadiguda based on information the two provided.
What charges have been filed in the Hyderabad cash van theft case?
A case under Section 303(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at IS Sadan police station, Hyderabad. The complaint was lodged by Bantupalli Suresh, Cash Custodian at Cleared Security Services Pvt Ltd.
What was the motive behind the Hyderabad ATM cash theft?
According to police, Chirra Srinivas committed the theft due to financial difficulties. He reportedly planned the crime in advance, discussed it with his sons, and used his insider knowledge of ATM cash-loading procedures to execute it while colleagues were occupied.
