Monday, Sep 25, 2023

Peddapalli bank heist: Burglars use Google map to locate bank

Ramagundam police arrested one of the gang members, Adesh Sharma, from Hasnpur, Hurja taluq, Badam district of Uttar Pradesh

By Telangana Today

Updated On - 08:43 PM, Tue - 4 May 21

Peddapalli bank heist: Burglars use Google map to locate bank — Adesh Sharma, the accused in Gunjapadu SBI bank robbery.

Karimnagar: Burglars from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh used Google maps to locate the Gunjapadugu branch of SBI bank to carry out the sensational theft on March 24, police said on Tuesday. The burglars, it may be recalled, had fled with six kg gold and Rs 18 lakh in cash.

Ramagundam police arrested one of the gang members, Adesh Sharma, from Hasnpur, Hurja taluq, Badam district of Uttar Pradesh. A team led by CI Mahender arrested Adesh Sharma in UP on May 1. After producing him in the local court, he was brought to Manthni on PT warrant and produced in First Class Magistrate court, Manthani on Tuesday.

Navabul Hasan and Danveer of UP, Raju Vasanth Rao Varbe, Devadas Roop Chand Kapgate, Sanketh Tej Ram Urke of Maharasstra are in the custody of Maharashtra police. Three other gang members, Nawab alias Guddu, Nasar Ali alias Bhure and Jahangeer alias Master from UP, are still absconding.

According to Adesh Sharma, they formed a gang of nine members including six from UP and three from Maharashtra. They camped in Raju Vasanth Rao Varbe’s house in Chandrapur of Maharashtra for 15 days and purchased a gas cylinder, regulator and gas cutter in Gondia district of Maharashtra.

Initially, they had decided to carry out thefts in banks located near National Highways. On March 19, the gang committed crime in Bank of Maharashtra in Warora police station limits of Chandrapur. They also committed crimes in a few banks and ATMs.

Later, they had decided to rob banks located on state highways and begun searching for them with the help of Google map. One of the members Nawab alias Guddu found the location of Gunjapadugu bank in his mobile phone. At around 8 pm on March 24, the gang members reached Gunjapadu of Manthani mandal and entered inside the bank by breaking the rear side window. They prepared a ladder with sticks available at the spot to climb a small wall located besides the bank.

At around 12 in the midnight, they entered the bank and disconnection CCTV cameras wires an electric alarm. Later, they broke open the strong room and cut the locker with a gas cutter. At around 2 am, they came out by filling six kg gold and Rs 18 lakh cash in a bag. Waiting for some time behind the bank, they went back to Chandrapur by 4.30 am. Later, robbers from UP went to their state by bus.

Based on the complaint by the bank manager Prahallad Pingva, police registered the case and began investigation by forming special investigation teams under the supervision of Godavarikhani ACP Umender.

Knowing that similar kinds of robberies took place in Maharashtra, three were sent to Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh states. Commissioner of Police V Satyanarayana appreciated OSD Sharath Chandra, who played a vital role in the investigation of the case. CP also appreciated Godavarikhani ACP Umender, Inspectors and others involved in the investigation.

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