Indian police have arrested nine individuals and recovered most of the 70 million rupees ($800,000) stolen in a sophisticated heist where armed men posed as central bank officials to rob an ATM cash van in Bengaluru.
The thieves executed their plan by stopping the transport vehicle, claiming they were Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officers conducting a paperwork check. They then forced the cash custodian and security guards into a separate SUV before driving off with the van.
A massive multi-state manhunt involving over 200 officers led to the arrests. Police revealed that the gang used meticulous tactics, including changing vehicles, using fake license plates, and operating in areas with minimal CCTV coverage.
The investigation has also exposed potential internal complicity. Among those arrested are a current and a former employee of the cash transport company CMS, as well as a local police constable. Authorities are now examining the company’s procedures for possible security lapses, noting that predictable routes and timings may have made the van an easy target.
By James Kisoo
