Karnataka Bank Heist: Stolen Gold Discovered in Tamil Nadu Well, Six Arrested
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Synopsis
Karnataka Police has solved a major bank theft case in Davanagere, arresting six suspects and recovering over 17 kg of gold worth Rs 13 crore from a well in Tamil Nadu, highlighting extensive planning and execution.
Key Takeaways
- Police arrested six suspects involved in a bank theft.
- Over 17 kg of gold worth Rs 13 crore recovered.
- Heist meticulously planned over several months.
- Thieves used innovative methods to avoid detection.
- Police employed advanced investigation techniques to crack the case.
Davanagere (Karnataka), March 31 (NationPress) - A dedicated team from the Karnataka Police has successfully solved the SBI bank theft case that took place in Nyamati, located in Davanagere district, in October 2024. The police apprehended six suspects and retrieved over 17 kg of stolen gold, valued at Rs 13 crore, including the recovery from a secluded well in a village within Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, as reported by officials.
This case posed a significant challenge for law enforcement, as the perpetrators executed the heist without leaving behind any evidence, such as fingerprints, CCTV footage, toll data, or cell phone records.
The individuals arrested have been identified as Vijay Kumar, 30, Ajay Kumar, 28, Abheesheka, 23, Chandru, 23, Manjunath, 32, and Paramananda, 30. Notably, Vijay Kumar and Ajay Kumar are siblings, while Paramananda is their brother-in-law.
All three originally hail from Tamil Nadu but have operated a sweets business in Nyamati for several years. The other three suspects, Abheesheka, Chandru, and Manjunath, are local residents.
The mastermind behind the heist, Vijay Kumar, viewed this criminal act as a solution to his financial troubles. His choice of the Nyamati branch of SBI was influenced by a loan application of Rs 15 lakh that had been declined by the bank in August 2023.
Inspired by television shows like ‘Money Heist’ and various films depicting bank robberies, Vijay Kumar claimed to have used YouTube tutorials to meticulously plan every detail of the theft.
Over a span of six to nine months, the heist was thoroughly organized, with the gang taking extensive measures to conceal their tracks. Vijay Kumar procured essential equipment during this time, which included silent hydraulic iron cutters and gas cutting tools.
He even ensured to erase the serial numbers from the oxygen cylinder purchased for gas cutting.
To facilitate the heist, Vijay Kumar enlisted the help of his brother, Ajay Kumar, brother-in-law Parmananda, and friends Abheesheka, Chandru, and Manjunath. Vijay Kumar and Chandru conducted numerous nighttime reconnaissance missions to assess the time required to access the bank through the fields behind it and to monitor police and public movements.
On October 28, 2024, it was reported that gold ornaments weighing a total of 17.7 kg were stolen from the Nyamati branch of SBI in Davanagere after the weekend.
The robbers gained entry by removing the iron grilles from a window on the left side of the main banking hall. They broke open one of the strongroom lockers using a gas cutter and stole its contents. Additionally, they absconded with the DVR that recorded the CCTV footage from the bank.
In an unusual move, the thieves scattered chili powder throughout the bank, including in the strongroom and the manager’s office, aiming to obstruct the dog squad from detecting their scent.
The investigation was assigned to Assistant Superintendent of Police, Channagiri Sub-Division, Sam Varghese. Under the guidance of Superintendent of Police, Davanagere, Uma Prashanth, several teams were formed, led by ASP Varghese, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rural, B.S. Basavaraj, and Nyamati Police Station Inspector, Ravi N.S.
From the onset, the police teams worked diligently to gather evidence from the crime scene and surrounding areas. They conducted combing searches and area domination exercises within an 8 km radius of the bank. Technical analysis was performed on all CCTV footage within a 50-km radius, and extensive cell and tower dumps along with toll data from all interstate tolls were collected.
However, the perpetrators managed to effectively cover their tracks, leaving little evidence behind. Consequently, innovative and extensive investigative techniques were employed to trace the robbers.
Recently, certain technical evidence was uncovered, indicating the involvement of individuals from Tamil Nadu with associates in Nyamati.
Acting swiftly, the police discovered that the Nyamati SBI bank theft was committed by the six arrested individuals.
After five months of relentless effort, the Davanagere police successfully cracked the case and detained the six suspects. Subsequent to the arrests, the police initiated operations to recover the stolen goods from various locations in Usalampatti, including a well.
With the assistance of divers, the police managed to recover a locker containing 15 kg of gold from a 30-feet-deep irrigation well located on a farm in Usalampatti.
