BENGALURU, 19 NOV 

In a dramatic daylight heist, unidentified men posing as Income Tax officials intercepted an ATM cash van in the city on Wednesday and fled with an estimated ₹7 crore, police said. The robbery, believed to be the first of its kind in Bengaluru in recent years, took place near Ashoka Pillar as the van was transporting cash from a JP Nagar branch.

According to preliminary investigations, the gang arrived in a car carrying a Government of India sticker and stopped the CMS cash vehicle, claiming they needed to verify documents. 

They then forced the van’s staff — along with the cash — into their car, drove towards Dairy Circle, and later dumped the staff before escaping with the money.

Police are examining footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras to track the vehicle’s route and identify the suspects. Home Minister G Parameshwara said the government was treating the incident “very seriously” and had obtained “certain leads.”

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the robbery occurred under the Siddapura police station limits. While the loss is estimated at ₹7 crore, he noted the figure is being verified as the van driver “has not shared accurate information.” The entire city has been placed under nakabandi, with multiple teams on the ground and technical units monitoring movement across Bengaluru. Two DCPs and a Joint Commissioner are leading the probe.

Singh said the suspects forced the transfer of the cash from the CMS van into their vehicle, but the exact number of assailants and whether the van’s security staff were armed remains unclear. “Information was not shared immediately. There was a delay… we are looking into all angles,” he added.

Home Minister Parameshwara said it was concerning that the robbers appeared to have prior knowledge of the cash movement. “Who gave them information? We don’t know yet. Such an incident should not have happened,” he said. “We will find out whether they are from Karnataka or outside.”

The heist sparked political accusations, with BJP leader R Ashoka alleging that “looting has become part of Brand Bengaluru” under the Congress government. “There is no protection for people’s money even in banks,” he claimed.

State BJP president BY Vijayendra said the robbery had created widespread fear and asserted that criminals “have no fear of the law” under the current regime, demanding immediate arrests.