One apprehended for breaking open ATM in Manesar, Gurugram

The police said the men had even sprayed black liquid on the CCTV camera to make it dysfunctional.

Published on: May 15, 2019, 05:19:58 IST

Hindustan Times, Grugram | By Leena Dhankhar

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A 19-year-old man was caught red-handed while allegedly trying to break open an ATM of a private bank in Manesar area in the wee hours of Tuesday, the police said.

Saini was produced in a district court and was taken on three-days police remand, an officer said. (HT Photo)

According to the police, another man was present at the spot but fled fearing arrest. The police said ₹80,000 and tools were recovered from the teenager’s possession.

The arrested man has been identified as Tittu Saini, a resident of Narnaul, Rewari, and his aide was identified as Vikas Yadav, a resident of Rewari. Police said they have launched a search for Yadav at suspected locations and hideouts.

Saini was produced in a district court and was taken on three-days police remand, an officer said.

According to the police, a team was undertaking patrol rounds in Nawada Fatehpur village on National Highway-8, near Kherki Daula, when it spotted a man standing outside the ATM kiosk around 4am on Tuesday. “Two police personnel prevented an ATM loot while they were on patrol. They noticed a shadow outside the ATM kiosk and saw a motorbike parked outside. They became suspicious but when they went close, the man fled the spot,” said Rajesh Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (Manesar).

The police said the men had even sprayed black liquid on the CCTV camera to make it dysfunctional.

Kumar said two of the accused had broken open the locks of the shutter and one of them was keeping a watch outside. “Saini had closed the shutter from the inside and was caught cutting the ATM machine with a gas cutter and other tools. The equipment was recovered from the spot,” said Kumar.

The police said that Saini has been to jail multiple times in the past and is a history-sheeter, according to the information revealed during questioning. He is involved in half a dozen ATM thefts, the police said.

“The accused said he used to cover his face before entering the ATM kiosk to hide his identity and even wore gloves,” said Kumar.

Police on Tuesday has written to the bank seeking information on how much cash was filled in the machine, to check the amount of missing cash. Also, the police questioned why no security guard was deployed at the kiosk all hours of a day, despite giving them regular reminders in this regard.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More