Four arrested for bank robbery in Vijayapura

Vijayapura Police arrested four persons, three from Bihar and one from Maharashtra, in connection with the armed robbery at an SBI branch at Chadchan in Vijayapura district.

A special investigation team formed to crack the case has also managed to recover 9 kg of the 20 kg gold jewelery and ₹ 86 lakh of the ₹ 1.04 crore stolen so far.

Additional Director General of Police R. Hitendra told reporters that the Vijayapura Police conducted the investigation successfully.

A team led by Additional Inspector of Police Ramanagouda Hatti arrested a man hailing from Maharashtra, said to be the ringleader of the crime.

His identity has not yet been released as the investigation is not yet complete.

The lead defendant assembled a team, conspired to loot the bank, conducted several reconnaissance exercises to obtain more information about the bank and its personnel, and committed the crime along with two others.

They stole a car from Mangalveda in Maharashtra and used it in the attack. He was arrested and brought to court on October 7. Approximately 55 grams of gold bracelet and a bicycle used in the crime were seized from the suspect. And the investigation is still ongoing.

Based on technical analysis and reliable information, the investigation team immediately went to Bihar to nab a gang supplying arms to the accused.

Rakesh Kumar Shivaji Sahani, 22, Rajukumar Ramlal Paswan, 21, and Rakshak Kumar Madan Mahato, 21, who were supplying illegal arms from Samastipur, were arrested. They were also brought before the court.

SBI manager Tarakeshwar G. Gangappa Venkatesh had earlier lodged a complaint with the police, saying that three men wearing masks entered the bank at 7.20 pm that day, threatened staff and customers, tied them up and took away gold and cash at gunpoint.

Chadchan Police registered the cases under Sections 309, 351(2), 127(1) of BNS 2023 and Sections 25, 27 of the Indian Arms Act.

Mr. Hitendra congratulated the team comprising Mr. Hatti, Deputy Superintendents of Police Jagadish HS and Sunil Kamble, Police Inspectors Suresh Bende Gumbal, MM Dappin and Ramesh Avaji, Sub-Inspectors Rakesh Bagali, Shrikanth Kamble, NG Apanaykar, Somesh Gejji, Manjunath Thirakannavar, Arvind Angadi. Devaraj Ulagaddi and his team.

Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi said the accused abandoned the stolen car in Hulajanti village in Maharashtra after a freak accident.

They escaped after threatening the villagers with a gun. However, they left the car containing the stolen goods behind. Some villagers took their valuables home. But the police rescued them.

Vijayapura Police rushed to the spot and found 21 packets containing 888.33 grams of gold ornaments and ₹1,03,160 cash in the car.

The police investigation team surrounded the place where the suspect left the vehicle. They blockaded the village of Hulajanti and conducted a search operation for two days. The accused had thrown a bag containing 6.54 kg of gold ornaments and ₹41,03,000 in cash on the roof of a dilapidated house in the village.