Additional Director-General of Police R. Hitendra looking at some jewellery recovered in the Chadchan bank robbery case in Vijayapura on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Vijayapura Police have arrested four people, three from Bihar and one from Maharashtra, in connection with the armed robbery at a SBI branch in Chadchan of Vijayapura district.
A special investigation team formed to crack the case has also managed to recover 9 kg of the 20 kg of gold ornaments and ₹86 lakh of the ₹1.04 crore stolen so far.
Additional Director-General of Police R. Hitendra told reporters that Vijayapura Police have successfully conducted the investigation.
A team led by Additional Superintendent of Police Ramanagouda Hatti arrested a man hailing from Maharashtra who is said to be the kingpin of the offence.
His identity is yet to be revealed as investigation has not been completed yet.
The prime accused gathered a team, conspired to loot the bank, organised several reconnaissance exercises to learn more about the bank and its staff and committed the offence in association with two others.
They stole a car from Mangalveda in Maharashtra and used it for the offence. He was arrested on October 7 and presented before a court. As much as 55 grams of gold bangles and one bike used in the crime were seized from him. And, investigation is still on.
Based on technical analysis and reliable information, the investigation team immediately went to Bihar to apprehend a gang that had supplied guns to the accused.
Three people who supplied illegal arms, 22-year-old Rakesh Kumar Shivaji Sahani, 21-year-old Rajukumar Ramlal Paswan and 21-year-old Rakshak Kumar Madan Mahato, all from Samastipur, were arrested. They too have been produced before court.
SBI manager Tarakeshwar G. Gangappa Venkatesh earlier lodged a complaint with the police saying that three people wearing masks entered the bank at 7.20 p.m. on that day, threatened the staff and customers, tied them up and made away with gold and cash at gun point.
Chadchan Police registered cases under Sections 309, 351(2), 127(1) of the BNS 2023 and Sections 25, 27 of the Indian Arms Act.
Mr. Hitendra congratulated the team comprising Mr. Hatti, Deputy Superintendents of Police Jagadish H.S. and Sunil Kamble, Police Inspectors Suresh Bende Gumbal, M.M. Dappin and Ramesh Avaji, Sub-Inspectors Rakesh Bagali, Shrikanth Kamble, N.G. Apanaykar, Somesh Gejji, Manjunath Thirakannavar, Arvind Angadi, Devaraj Ulagaddi and staff.
Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi said that the accused abandoned the stolen car in Hulajanti village of Maharashtra after a freak accident.
They escaped after threatening the villagers with a pistol. But they left behind the car containing the stolen goods. Some villagers took home the valuables. Police have, however, recovered them.
Vijayapura Police rushed to the spot and recovered 21 packets containing 888.33 grams of gold ornaments and ₹1,03,160 in cash from the car.
The police investigation team surrounded the place where the accused abandoned the vehicle. They cardoned off Hulajanti village and carried out search operation for two days. The accused had thrown a bag on the roof of a dilapidated house in the village in which 6.54 kg of gold ornaments and ₹41,03,000 in cash were found.
Published – October 09, 2025 07:28 pm IST
