Hyderabad: Kamareddy police arrested a 30-year-old Rajasthan man in the Gandhari SBI ATM theft case involving Rs 25.45 lakh. Five special teams searched across five states before tracking down the suspect, Rashid, in Rajasthan. Police also seized cash, a Scorpio vehicle, gas-cutting equipment, mobile phones and weapons.
According to district Superintendent of Police M. Rajesh Chandra, unidentified men targeted the SBI ATM on Gandhari’s main road shortly after midnight on October 10. The suspects wore nightwear and masks. They sprayed black paint on CCTV cameras before using a gas cutter to break open the ATM. They then escaped with five cash boxes containing Rs 25,45,900.
Following the theft, police registered a case at Gandhari police station. The SP formed five special teams under the supervision of Ellareddy Deputy Superintendent of Police Srinivasa Rao. CCS Inspector Santosh Kumar and Sub-Inspectors Anjaneyulu and Pushparaj led the investigation. They examined CCTV footage and technical evidence to identify the suspects.
Gandhari SBI ATM theft probe leads police to Rajasthan
Investigators found that the suspects travelled in a black Mahindra Scorpio and changed fake number plates to evade police. The probe also linked the gang to two ATM thefts in Karimnagar in September.
Police said the suspects broke into a welding shop on the route to Gandhari on October 10. They stole an oxygen cylinder and equipment before targeting the SBI ATM. After the theft, they travelled through Maharashtra towards Rajasthan.
Acting on information from Kamareddy police, Chechat police tried to intercept the Scorpio. However, a tyre burst forced the suspects to abandon the vehicle and flee with the cash.
On the evening of October 20, Kamareddy police teams found Rashid near Barodameo on the Bharatpur road in Rajasthan. He was waiting for a bus when officers detained him. Police later brought him to Kamareddy on a transit warrant.
On October 21, officers recovered equipment, knives and an iron rod from the abandoned Scorpio in Chechat. The seizure included Rs 29,400 in cash, two mobile phones, a gas-cutting nozzle, a regulator, pipes, fake number plates and masks. Police also seized three knives and an iron rod.
The SP said police would produce Rashid before a court on Monday. Meanwhile, investigators continued efforts to arrest the remaining suspects. Rajesh Chandra congratulated DSP Srinivasa Rao, Inspector Santosh Kumar, the two sub-inspectors and other team members for cracking the case.