RBI Impersonators Pull Off Daylight Heist, Make Away With ₹7.11 Crore in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: A meticulously planned daylight robbery in Karnataka’s capital has sent shockwaves across the state. A gang, posing as RBI officials, looted ₹7.11 crore from an armored cash van transporting currency for ATM replenishment. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh has ordered a city-wide high alert and intensified vehicle checks to apprehend the perpetrators.

The Daring Heist
The audacious robbery occurred between 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM in South Bengaluru. The CMS Info Systems van, carrying cash in three boxes, was en route from HDFC Bank in JP Nagar to HBR Layout, a distance of 22 km. The incident involved one armored van, an MUV, and two hatchback vehicles.

The gang, numbering five to six men, stopped the cash van near Ashoka Stambh in Jayanagar Second Block by blocking its path with a Maruti Zen hatchback. The van carried driver Binod Kumar and three staff members – custodian Aftab and armed personnel Rajanna and Tammayya.

Posing as RBI Officers
Three men emerged from the hatchback, followed by an Inova and an MUV. Claiming to be RBI officers, they told the van staff that their company had violated RBI guidelines and that statements needed to be recorded. Believing them, the CMS employees complied. Two armed men, Rajanna and Tammayya, left their licensed single-barrel guns in the vehicle and entered the MUV with the custodian.

Executing the Robbery
The gang instructed driver Kumar to proceed to Dairy Circle Flyover, 3 km away from Ashoka Stambh, claiming RBI officers were waiting there. Upon reaching Nimhans Junction, the MUV stopped. The robbers ordered all CMS employees to disembark, insisting that the cash boxes needed to be taken for RBI verification. Under the threat of guns, the gang transferred the cash boxes to a Maruti WagonR hatchback and fled immediately, leaving Kumar and the van behind.

Investigation Underway
Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh confirmed that multiple police teams are investigating the case. Eight special teams, led by two Deputy Commissioners and one Joint Commissioner, are working on various leads. A witness reported seeing the hatchback block the van’s path and an MUV displaying a fake government logo. Police later confirmed that the license plate (KA-03-NC-8052) was forged and linked to a sedan in Kalyan Nagar.

CMS senior security advisor Nataraj assured that there is no suspicion on any employee and expressed confidence that the investigation will uncover those responsible. CMS branch manager Vinod Chandra lodged an official complaint late Wednesday night.

This audacious daylight heist has raised serious concerns about the security of cash transportation in Bengaluru and prompted authorities to review existing protocols.