Man who lost money to online games, makes futile bid to break ATM in Hyderabad

According to the police, driven by a severe addiction to online games like Rummy and Roulette, the accused accumulated substantial debt, reaching approximately Rs 30 lakh. He had borrowed the money from his friends and online loan apps

Hyderabad: Having lost huge money to online games, a man who attempted to break open the State Bank of India ATM, was arrested by the Moghapura police on Friday.

The arrested person was identified as Honmane Kashinath alias Kashi (24), a sweets seller from Aliabad.

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According to the police, driven by a severe addiction to online games like Rummy and Roulette, the Kashi accumulated substantial debt, reaching approximately Rs 30 lakh. He had borrowed the money from his friends and online loan apps.

“In a desperate attempt to alleviate this financial burden, he resorted to committing theft by targeting an ATM,” said a senior police official.

On February 15 early hours, he entered the SBI ATM located in Shalibanda and using a boulder, he broke open the cash vending machine. He took out the cash chest, which he subsequently broke open with a stone. However, finding no cash inside, he discarded the empty box in a nearby garbage container and fled from the spot.

The incident came to light after a customer came to the ATM to withdraw cash later in the day and informed the bank authorities.

Based on the complaint from Syed Mahammad Rafi, the SBI Branch Manager, Shalibanda branch, the Moghalpura police booked a case and arrested Kashi.

“The suspect removed the cash retract box containing rejected and counterfeit notes. Upon inspection by an ATM technician, it was confirmed that all cash cassettes, containing nearly Rs 7.7 lakh were intact. No cash was stolen, but the box was damaged,” a police official said.