Karnataka: Dressed as cops, gang loots Rs 90 lakh from Muthoot Mini Finance office

BENGALURU: In a major gold heist at Muthoot Mini Finance office at Mariayappanapalya in Kumbalgodu on the city outskirts, a gang of five unidentified men, posing as policemen, kidnapped the branch manager and later returned with him to decamp with gold and cash worth over Rs 90 lakh. The Ramanagar police have formed a special team and intensified the probe based on the complaint registered by the manager, Nagendrappa, who was later released by the kidnappers.

According to the police, the miscreants were clad in police uniforms and entered the office around 7.30 pm, while the manager was alone. The security guard, who believed them to be policemen, did not try to stop them. The gang members told the manager that they were arresting him in connection with a case and handcuffed him.

“They took him out and kidnapped him in an SUV. They took him to an unknown place near Machohalli at Nelamangala, where they allegedly assaulted him and got details of the gold jewellery and cash kept in the office. Early morning on Friday, they took him back to the office and made him to open the door with the keys he had. As they entered the office, they destroyed the security camera and the DVR box that had the footage. They then forced him to open the lockers and took away the gold pledged by public and some cash and escaped. Later the manager informed the police about the incident,” the police said.

“The robbery was well planned and we suspect the role of insiders, as they clearly knew about the time when the employees left. We will question all the staff and former employees,” the police added.