Four arrested for ATM theft in Bidar district; ₹32 lakh worth of property seized

Bidar Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti and other police officers with the seized cash, car and other materials from the accused in the ATM theft case.

Four inter-State thieves have been arrested in connection with the theft of an ATM cash cassette containing ₹23.86 lakh from an SBI ATM at the Hiremath Sansthan complex in Bhalki town of Bidar district.

The police have seized cash and other property worth approximately ₹32 lakh from them.

Addressing a press conference in Bidar on Saturday, Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti said the accused were arrested in Hyderabad on October 30, within five days of the theft.

The arrested have been identified as Asu, 40, Asif, 25, and Anish, 47, all from Haryana, and Rahul, 23, a native of Bharatpur district in Rajasthan.

According to the police, the theft took place around 2.10 a.m. on October 25. The accused allegedly entered the SBI ATM at the Hiremath Sansthan complex in Bhalki and used a gas cutter to cut open the left side of the cash storage machine before removing the cassette containing ₹23,86,400.

Mr. Gunti said four special teams were formed under the supervision of four Deputy Superintendents of Police to investigate the case. An examination of AI-camera footage helped the police establish that the suspects had travelled towards Hyderabad in Telangana. The teams subsequently intensified their search in the city and apprehended the four men in the Shahin Nagar area of Hyderabad on October around 3.30 p.m.

Bidar Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti inspecting the cash and other materials seized from the accused in the ATM theft case.

The police seized ₹12 lakh in cash and a Hyundai Creta car valued at ₹20 lakh from the accused. Other items recovered included a gas cylinder, an oxygen cylinder, a gas-cutter pipe, cutting pliers, screwdrivers, iron rods, spray bottles, two mobile phones and 11 number plates belonging to different States. Fastag, gloves, caps, masks and three burqas were also seized.

The police said the accused had confessed to their involvement in the ATM theft during questioning. A case has been registered at the Bhalki Town Police Station under Sections 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and further legal action is being taken.

Mr. Gunti appreciated the police officers and personnel involved in cracking the case within a week.