Hyderabad police, with assistance from Rajasthan Police, have arrested a 34-year-old Rajasthan resident in connection with the alleged theft of Rs.7.40 lakh from an Axis Bank cash deposit machine in Shamshabad and two vehicle thefts. Four other suspects are absconding, police said.
The arrested man has been identified as Rashid alias Kakoo alias Yousuf, a lorry driver. The police seized a car, a motorcycle, a gas cutter and two mobile phones from him, according to the account reported by Deccan Chronicle. The suspects who remain at large have been identified as Sohail, Faizan, Shamshuddin and another associate, with the report stating that Sohail and Faizan are from Rajasthan and Shamshuddin is from Uttar Pradesh.
The case began after Dommeti Anil, the Axis Bank branch head, received an alert from the bank’s command centre in Mumbai on October 6 about suspicious activity at the Shamshabad branch. He informed the police through Dial 100 and directed branch staff to reach the location. On inspection, officials found that unknown offenders had cut open the cash deposit machine using a gas cutter, sprayed paint over the surveillance cameras and cut the hooter cable before taking the cash. A subsequent verification found a shortage of Rs.7.40 lakh.
Police said their investigation linked the suspects to a wider sequence of vehicle thefts and preparations for the ATM operation. According to the police account, Rashid and another suspect travelled to Hyderabad in a truck about a month before the theft, carrying gas-cutting equipment and paint spray. The equipment was allegedly hidden in bushes in Pahadishareef for later use.
The suspects later returned to Hyderabad, collected the equipment and allegedly stole a motorcycle and a Santro car. Police said the vehicles were used to facilitate the ATM theft. After identifying the Axis Bank machine in Shamshabad, Faizan allegedly sprayed paint on the CCTV cameras while Rashid disabled the alarm system. The machine was then cut open and the cash removed.
After the alleged theft, the group fled towards Patancheruvu and abandoned the car. Police said the suspects travelled through Zaheerabad, Nanded, Amaravati, Akola, Indore and Kota in Rajasthan before separating and returning to their respective locations. Technical analysis and call detail records were used to trace Rashid to Gollapally crossroads, where he was arrested, according to the police.
During interrogation, police said Rashid disclosed that the stolen money was divided among the accused while they were travelling in a sleeper bus. His alleged share was Rs.90,000, of which he reportedly spent Rs.85,500 on personal expenses. Police also said Rashid has 46 previous cases registered against him in Gurugram, Delhi, Faridabad, Rewari and other jurisdictions. The investigation into the absconding suspects and the remaining proceeds is continuing.
