Singrauli, April 20 (NationPress) The identities of the four remaining suspects in the high-profile robbery at the Bank of Maharashtra in Waidhan, Singrauli, have been confirmed, and they are expected to be apprehended shortly, announced Superintendent of Police Manish Khatri during a press briefing on Monday.

“The four identified suspects are Pankaj from Jharkhand, Chhotu from Bihar, Rajesh Kumar from Giridih in Jharkhand, and another individual from Nalanda in Bihar. Ongoing raids are in progress, and their arrests are imminent,” he stated.

This recent development was made possible through the interrogation of Kamlesh Kumar, who was captured while attempting to escape along a railway route in Bihar.

During intensive questioning, Kamlesh, also known as Gorelal, disclosed significant information regarding his accomplices, aiding police in identifying and locating them.

Kamlesh was arrested on Saturday at Dehri-on-Sone with the support of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). He was subsequently brought to Singrauli and presented in court on Sunday.

According to law enforcement, Kamlesh attempted to flee upon noticing police officers but was quickly subdued. Authorities recovered ₹15.72 lakh in cash and approximately 61 grams of gold jewelry valued at over ₹9 lakh from him, believed to be part of his share from the heist.

He was presented before a district court in Waidhan on Sunday and has been remanded into police custody for eight days for further questioning. Reports indicate that this custodial interrogation is providing vital leads about the other suspects and the stolen assets.

Authorities have also discovered that Kamlesh has a criminal history in Bihar, with two FIRs filed against him in Nalanda district for cases involving theft and extortion, and he had previously spent nearly one year in prison. His criminal background is currently being verified with Bihar Police and local jail officials.

Police confirmed that Kamlesh was one of five armed individuals involved in the brazen daytime robbery executed last Friday. The robbers entered the Bank of Maharashtra branch around 1 P.M., took both customers and staff hostage at gunpoint, and compelled the bank manager to open lockers containing pledged gold. The manager was assaulted, and warning shots were fired to instill panic among the hostages.

In a mere 15 minutes, the robbers made off with approximately ₹20 lakh in cash and between 7 to 10 kilograms of gold jewelry, collectively worth nearly ₹15 crore. They fled the scene on two motorcycles towards the Chhattisgarh border. CCTV footage from surrounding areas has documented their escape, while a country-made pistol recovered near Masjid Tiraaha is currently under examination as part of the investigation.

Singrauli district is strategically located near the borders of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, with Bihar and Jharkhand in close proximity, making the area sensitive for interstate movements. Police have noted this geographical aspect and have established close collaboration with law enforcement teams in neighboring states to pursue the fleeing suspects.

In response, the Madhya Pradesh Police has declared a reward of ₹50,000 for any information leading to the capture of the absconding suspects. This decision was made following a review of the case by Director General of Police Kailash Makwana, who has instructed officials to enhance interstate coordination and expedite the investigation process.

Police teams from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are working collaboratively on this case. Officials anticipate that further interrogation of the captured suspect will provide critical leads, assist in recovering the remaining stolen assets, and unravel the entire network behind this audacious robbery.