Bengaluru Cash Van Robbery: Thieves Pose as RBI Officials, Get Away with Rs 7.11 Crore

A dramatic daylight robbery in southern Bengaluru has left police chasing a highly coordinated gang that escaped with Rs 7.11 crore after posing as officials from the Reserve Bank of India.

The heist unfolded on a busy Wednesday afternoon and is being described as one of the city's most audacious cash van robberies.

How the Gang Executed the Heist

According to police, the six-member gang arrived in a Grey Metallic Toyota Innova and blocked a CMS Info System cash van near the Ashoka Pillar in Jayanagar between 12.30 pm and 1 pm. CMS is responsible for collecting and transporting cash for banks. The van had just picked up money from HDFC Bank's JP Nagar branch and was headed toward Lalbagh's Siddapura Gate.

The Innova carried a registration number belonging to a Maruti Suzuki Swift VDI and had the words Govt of India printed in red letters on the rear window. The men introduced themselves as RBI officials and told the four-member cash van crew that they needed to inspect the vehicle and verify the documents related to the large amount being transported.

Crew Misdirection and Cash Transfer

The robbers instructed the driver, Binod Kumar, to continue alone to the Dairy Circle flyover and wait for them, while the other three crew members were asked to get inside the Innova for what they believed would be a verification trip to a police station. Instead, the crew was abruptly dropped off before the flyover.

The gang then intercepted the driver at the flyover, allegedly held him at gunpoint, shifted the cash boxes into the Innova and fled. A senior police officer said, "We suspect they chose that spot due to poor CCTV surveillance. They were last seen crossing a toll gate in Kolar."

Inside Job Not Ruled Out

Police officials have raised questions about the ease with which the armed guards complied with the gang's instructions. Investigators also say the driver has given "unconvincing" answers.

"We suspect this was all pre-planned. The robbers appear to have recced the van's movements, choosing the interception and escape points. This reeks of a well-planned heist because it is not easy to rob in a highly surveilled city like Bengaluru," the officer added. All four crew members are now in custody for questioning.

Citywide Hunt Underway

Scene of crime experts and forensic teams have examined the van for prints and other clues. Police also believe an additional Maruti Suzuki Zen may have been used in the operation.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said a nakabandi was set up quickly after the robbery and several teams are pursuing leads. "A few teams are physically on the ground, others are carrying out technical investigations. There was a delay in alerting the police, and the driver has given contradictory statements. All angles are being probed," Singh said.

Search operations continue as investigators look into every possibility, including the involvement of insiders familiar with the cash van route and schedule.