THE JAYANAGAR CASH HEIST: HOW A MASTERFULLY ORCHESTRATED ROBBERY UNRAVELLED IN 72 HOURS
A shadowy gang of six to eight men plotted one of Bengaluru’s most daring daylight robberies—studying routines, mapping escape routes, and silently observing their target. This took them nearly six months
They spent 15 days conducting reconnaissance, slipped into the city’s crowds unnoticed, and during the operation abandoned phones, switched cars, changed number plates, and even spoke in multiple languages to conceal their identities.
Yet, despite the precision and discipline of this near-military operation, the Bengaluru Police cracked the case in just three days, long before the stolen currency could vanish into the country’s underground networks.
By Saturday, Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh announced the arrest of three men from Karnataka, including an active police constable, and the recovery of ₹5.76 crore out of ₹7.11 crore looted on November 19 from an ATM cash van.
Hours later, DCP (South) Lokesh B. Jagalasar revealed an even bigger breakthrough—three more suspects detained in Hyderabad and another ₹53 lakh seized, pushing the total recovery past ₹6 crore. A vehicle used in the crime was also confiscated.
The arrested trio were identified as:
- Annappa Naik, constable with Govindapura Police Station
- Xavier, a former employee of CMS Info Systems
- Gopi Prasad, current employee at CMS Info Systems
Investigators quickly discovered that Gopi was the linchpin, manipulating the CMS cash van routes and providing the gang with intimate knowledge of the system.
His understanding of CCTV blind spots and security protocols revealed the depth of the planning.
Meanwhile, Xavier—already once jailed for a similar crime—provided criminal experience.
But it was Constable Naik who allegedly trained the crew on how to execute the robbery without leaving behind a single trace.
To crack the case, police formed an elite investigation unit—two ACPs, 11 inspectors, and six Crime Branch officers—who fanned out across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa, interrogating more than 30 individuals.
THE ROBBERY THAT SHOOK BENGALURU
Posing as RBI and Income Tax officers, the gang intercepted the CMS-operated van near Ashoka Pillar, brandished weapons, seized the cash boxes, and abandoned the van just 30 minutes later on the Dairy Circle flyover.
Shockingly, the crime was not immediately reported. Although the heist occurred at 12:48 pm, CMS staff informed police only at 1:20 pm, giving the robbers a significant head start.
According to Commissioner Singh, the gang made several calculated halts, always in zones without CCTV coverage.
They never used mobile phones, leaving behind no digital footprint. They constantly switched vehicles and swapped fake number plates. One car even bore a ‘Govt of India’ sticker to avoid suspicion.
The criminals had also chosen the Dairy Circle flyover as the cash-transfer point—an area notorious for weak CCTV visibility.
Making matters worse for investigators, the stolen notes were not serialised, making tracking nearly impossible.
Each gang member had a specific role—planning, surveillance, execution, and dispersal of the stolen money.
Singh also pointed out serious lapses by CMS Info Systems:
- The van’s GPS device wasn’t functioning—an RBI guideline violation
- The cash route had become predictable
- The DVR of the van’s CCTV system mysteriously vanished
A SCRIPTED PLAN WITH AN INSIDER’S HAND
During interrogation, inconsistencies emerged in the statements of the cash van crew.
The FIR filed by CMS branch manager Vinod Chandra described how a grey Innova intercepted the van, with the gang impersonating officials and questioning the crew about transporting large sums without authorisation.
The criminals forced the guards into their vehicle under the pretext of taking them to the police station, while the driver was ordered to move the cash van towards Dairy Circle.
There, at gunpoint, the gang transferred the money into another car and disappeared.
Investigators later learned the gang had escaped toward Kolar via Hoskote Road, bypassing usual checkpoints.
Another vehicle—a Maruti Zen—is suspected to have played a part in the heist.
THE HUNT NARROWS
Home Minister G. Parameshwara assured the public that police had “strong leads” and vowed swift arrests. Commissioner Singh confirmed that special teams were working around the clock.
By combining forensic clues, CCTV footage from surrounding areas, highway toll scans, and interrogation intelligence, investigators finally located the suspects—and the cash.
The heist that seemed flawless, cold, and cinematic began falling apart piece by piece.
