CHENNAI: In a daring incident, the driver of a private cash management company on Monday allegedly drove away with Rs 1.22 crore in cash meant to be filled in ATMs.
Police said, the driver identified as Isakki Pandian, a native of Tirunelveli had shifted the money to another vehicle before abandoning the company’s van at Maduravoyal and escaped.
The vehicle with the company’s staff Babu, Sathish Kumar and armed guard Jovith Mullah was carrying around Rs 2 crore and 29 lakh and started from Bank of Baroda’s Kodambakkam branch.
The silver Tata Sumo bearing the registration TN 20 CW 8841 was on its way to fill the ATM at Poonamallee High Road, Velappanchavadi, opposite Kendra Vihar Quarters at around 4 pm.
“The staff Babu and Sathish Kumar and armed guard Jovith Mullah had gone to load cash in the ATM leaving behind the driver in the van. Meanwhile, Isakki drove the van and escaped with the money,” said the investigating officer.
Police recovered the van along the road near Madhuravoyal. They suspect the driver to have shifted the money into another car and fled the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Isakki Pandian worked in the private cash management company ‘Logicash’ in Kodambakkam for the past three months.
The staff who had brought the money from Kodambakkam had deposited cash in 10 ATMs including Koyambedu, Villivakkam, Padi, Porur and Virugambakka before the incident was reported.
A case has been registered with the Thiruverkadu police station and a search has been launched for the driver. Five special teams have been formed to nab the suspects.
It may be noted that on August 30, a driver of a similar cash management company was arrested for hijacking the van and robbing around Rs 26 lakh near an ATM at Mannadi.