
'Money Heist': How six men learned bank robbery from TV shows and YouTube to loot 17.7 kg gold from SBI after loan rejection
Karnataka police apprehended a six-member gang responsible for the daring robbery at the Nyamati branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Davangere, from which 17.7 kg of gold was stolen. The heist, which took place on October 28, 2024, had left authorities puzzled for months. However, a series of coordinated operations and cross-state investigations led to the breakthrough.
The stolen gold was recovered from a well in Usalampatti town in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district, a crucial find that brought the investigation one step closer to unmasking the perpetrators.
According to the police, the suspects have been identified as Vijaykumar (30), his brother Ajaykumar (28), Abhisheka (23), Chandru (23), Manjunath (32), and Paramananda (30). The group comprised both locals from Nyamati and individuals with ties to Tamil Nadu.
«Vijaykumar and Ajaykumar are brothers, while Paramananda is their brother-in-law. All three are originally from Tamil Nadu but have lived in Nyamati, where they ran a sweets business for many years,» the police revealed.
The other three accused—Abhisheka, Chandru, and Manjunath—hail from Nyamati, a small town in Karnataka.
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Police uncover bigger criminal nexus
While the gang's involvement was initially suspected, the police also uncovered another criminal network during their investigation. This led to the identification of a notorious group of bank robbers from Kakrala in Uttar Pradesh, known for executing high-profile heists across southern India. «There are around five to six gangs operating in Kakrala and neighboring towns, who have been committing thefts and robberies for over a decade, including the gold theft from the SBI branch at Rayaparathy in Warangal,» said a police spokesperson.