VIJAYAPURA: In a significant bank robbery, unidentified individuals looted approximately 58.98 kg of gold jewellery worth Rs 53.26 crore and Rs 5.20 lakh in cash from the Canara Bank branch in Managuli, Basavana Bagewadi taluk, over the long weekend between 23 and 25 May.
According to a formal complaint lodged by Kalmesh Layappa Pujari, the Branch-in-Charge, the theft was discovered around 11:30 a.m. on 25 May, when staff member Sambaji D Kamakar noticed that the lock on the main rolling shutter had been broken. He immediately alerted the Branch-in-Charge, who arrived at the scene and found that both the shutter lock and window grills had been forcibly cut.
The incident was reported to the Regional Head, who arrived at the branch with officials from the Regional Office by 1:00 p.m. Police were informed shortly thereafter and reached the location at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Upon inspecting the premises, police and bank officials found the main door of the strong room intact. However, the inner grill gate had been cut and bent. Inside, one of the steel almirahs used to store gold ornaments was found empty. A total of 1,373 gold packets, weighing 59,348.94 grams gross, were reported missing. Approximately 372 grams of gold was found scattered inside the premises, leading to a net loss of 58,976.94 grams.
In addition, another almirah containing cash had been opened, and Rs 5,20,450 was missing. The culprits also removed the CCTV NVR unit and its hard disk, effectively disabling all surveillance recordings during the break-in.
The branch had last operated on 23 May, and the burglary is believed to have occurred between 7:00 p.m. that evening and 11:30 a.m. on 25 May, coinciding with the fourth Saturday and Sunday bank holiday closure.
A delay in filing the police complaint was attributed to the time taken to physically verify and reconcile the remaining gold inventory.
Police have registered a case and launched a full-scale investigation. Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi confirmed that eight special teams have been constituted to probe the case.