Bengaluru Heist: Rs 7 Crore Stolen by Men Impersonating Government Officials from Cash Van

CCTV footage is currently being analyzed to trace the route of the vehicle and identify the perpetrators involved in the heist.

Bengaluru:

On Wednesday, a group of unidentified individuals impersonating central government officials intercepted a cash van and reportedly escaped with approximately Rs 7 crore, according to police reports.

The robbery took place near the Ashoka Pillar while the vehicle was transporting cash from a bank branch located in JP Nagar.

Initial investigations indicate that several men arrived in a car displaying a Government of India sticker. They halted the cash vehicle under the pretense of document verification.

The suspects subsequently forced the van's staff into their vehicle along with the cash. They reportedly drove toward Dairy Circle, where they released the staff before speeding away with the money, estimated to be around Rs 7 crore, as stated by a senior police officer.

Authorities are examining CCTV footage to track the vehicle's route and identify those responsible for the crime.

In a later media briefing, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh confirmed that the incident occurred during the afternoon within the Siddapura police station jurisdiction. He mentioned that while approximately Rs 7 crore was stolen, the exact amount remains under verification as the cash van driver provided inconsistent information.

"We have implemented roadblocks throughout the entire city and are making concerted efforts to apprehend the suspects. Multiple teams have been formed and deployed across the city. Our personnel are actively working both on the ground and in the control room with various technical divisions. We aim to solve this case as quickly as possible. Two Deputy Commissioners of Police and a Joint Commissioner are currently leading the investigation," he stated.

Based on preliminary information, the officer explained that the money was forcibly transferred from the CMS cash van into another vehicle before being taken away.

When questioned about the number of suspects involved, the Commissioner replied, "We do not have definitive information at this time." Regarding whether the cash vehicle security personnel were armed, he indicated that verification was needed to determine how many security staff were present and what weapons they carried.

"There was a delay in sharing information initially... we are investigating all possible angles," he added.