In a major daylight robbery in Bengaluru, a group of armed men posing as Central Tax officers intercepted an ATM cash-loading vehicle near the Ashoka Pillar and looted crores of rupees. Sources told NDTV that around Rs 7 crore might have been stolen.
The CMS cash van was transporting money from the JP Nagar branch of HDFC Bank when a Toyota Innova suddenly blocked its way. The occupants of Innova approached the CMS staff and claimed they were from the Central Tax Department and said that they needed to verify documents.
Before the cash van staff could react, the suspects forcibly shifted them along with the cash into their Innova car. The gang then drove towards Dairy Circle, where they abandoned the CMS staff and fled with the money.
South Division Police have formed special teams and launched an intensive search to identify and arrest the culprits. Preliminary investigations indicate the involvement of a well-organised gang.
The CMS cash van staff who were inside the Innova had delayed in informing the police about the incident. Four of them have been taken to the police station and are being questioned.
"We have information that about Rs 7 crores have been robbed, but we have yet to ascertain the exact amount, as the driver is not giving clear details. Checkpoints have been put up across the city, and multiple teams have been formed, who are working on and off the ground," said Bengaluru police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh.
"Three DCPs and one joint commissioner is handling the case, I can share exact details later, but we know that cash was shifted from this CMS vehicle to another, we are awaiting clear cut details, we are trying to ascertain why the security didn't use their weapons and also why they delayed in informing the police, we are looking into all these angles," he added.
