ATM cash van driver flees with ₹17 lakh in Hyderabad; insider angle probed
Synopsis
A pre-planned cash heist in Hyderabad saw an ATM replenishment van driver escape with ₹17 lakh on a two-wheeler, abandoning the vehicle on Rein Bazaar–Santosh Nagar Main Road. Police suspect insider involvement and have formed special teams — while on the same day, a Sub-Inspector was caught accepting a ₹50,000 bribe, making it a double blow to Hyderabad's law-and-order image.
Key Takeaways
An ATM cash van driver allegedly fled with ₹17 lakh in Hyderabad on 23 June , escaping on a two-wheeler after abandoning the van.
The theft occurred on Rein Bazaar–Santosh Nagar Main Road under IS Sadan Police Station jurisdiction.
Police are reviewing CCTV footage and suspect insider involvement ; special teams have been formed.
Narsimhulu of Gandhi Nagar Police Station was caught by the ACB accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 (of a demanded ₹1 lakh ) on the same day.
Narsimhulu was produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases ; both cases remain under investigation.
An ATM cash replenishment van driver allegedly fled with ₹17 lakh in Hyderabad on Tuesday, 23 June, abandoning the vehicle and escaping on a two-wheeler, according to police. The incident occurred on the Rein Bazaar–Santosh Nagar Main Road, under the jurisdiction of IS Sadan Police Station, while the cash was being transported for ATM replenishment.
How the Theft Unfolded
According to police, the accused driver allegedly took possession of a cash box containing ₹17 lakh stored inside the vehicle. He is believed to have planned the theft in advance — after securing the cash, he reportedly fled the scene on a two-wheeler, leaving the van behind. The calculated nature of the escape has led investigators to suspect prior planning rather than an opportunistic act.
Investigation Under Way
The IS Sadan Police registered a case and immediately launched an investigation. Police teams are reviewing CCTV footage from the area to trace the suspect's movements. Special teams have been constituted to track down and apprehend the accused driver. Notably, investigators suspect insider involvement and are probing whether the driver had accomplices who may have facilitated the heist from within the cash-handling operation.
Sub-Inspector Caught Taking Bribe on the Same Day
In a separate incident also reported from Hyderabad on Tuesday, a police Sub-Inspector was caught red-handed accepting a bribe. V. Narsimhulu, attached to Gandhi Nagar Police Station, was apprehended by officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at around 5:30 pm IST.
According to the ACB, Narsimhulu had demanded ₹1 lakh from a complainant to issue station bail and to refrain from harassing the complainant in a case registered against him. He accepted a partial payment of ₹50,000, which was recovered from his possession at his instance. The ACB arrested the officer and produced him before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases. The identity of the complainant has been withheld for security reasons, the bureau said. The case remains under investigation.
Broader Context
Cash-in-transit theft involving insider collusion has been a recurring security challenge for ATM replenishment agencies across Indian cities. The Hyderabad incident adds to a pattern where trusted employees exploit access to high-value consignments. Simultaneously, the ACB bribery arrest underscores ongoing accountability concerns within the city's law enforcement apparatus. Both cases are expected to reach their next procedural stages within days.
Point of View
A gap that private agencies and banks have been slow to close. The simultaneous ACB bribery arrest of a serving Sub-Inspector compounds the optics: when the enforcers themselves are compromised, the deterrence argument collapses. Hyderabad's police leadership faces pressure to demonstrate that both cases move swiftly to prosecution, not just registration.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Hyderabad ATM cash van theft?
An ATM cash replenishment van driver allegedly stole ₹17 lakh from a cash box inside the vehicle on 23 June in Hyderabad, then fled on a two-wheeler, abandoning the van on Rein Bazaar–Santosh Nagar Main Road. Police have registered a case and suspect the theft was pre-planned, with possible insider involvement.
Which police station is handling the ATM theft case?
IS Sadan Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the incident occurred, has registered the case and is leading the investigation. Special teams have been formed and CCTV footage from the area is being examined.
Is there an insider angle to the Hyderabad ATM heist?
Yes, according to police, investigators suspect that the driver may have had accomplices within the cash-handling operation who helped facilitate the theft. The probe is ongoing to identify any such individuals.
Who is Sub-Inspector V. Narsimhulu and why was he arrested?
V. Narsimhulu is a Sub-Inspector attached to Gandhi Nagar Police Station in Hyderabad. He was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on 23 June after being caught accepting ₹50,000 — part of a ₹1 lakh bribe demanded from a complainant in exchange for station bail and a promise not to harass them further.
What action has the ACB taken against the accused Sub-Inspector?
The ACB recovered the tainted amount of ₹50,000 from Narsimhulu's possession and arrested him. He was subsequently produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases. The case remains under investigation, and the complainant's identity has been withheld for security reasons.
