Robbers remove bank’s exhaust fan, flee with Rs 49 lakh

A cooperative bank at NM Joshi Marg in central Mumbai, was robbed of more than Rs 49 lakh cash by unidentified persons on Friday night.

A cooperative bank at NM Joshi Marg in central Mumbai, was robbed of more than Rs 49 lakh cash by unidentified persons on Friday night.

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The theft seems to have been carried out in a well-planned manner, police said.

The accused were aware of exactly where the cash room was located and in which drawer the locker keys were kept.

“We strongly suspect the role of an insider in the case,” a police official said.

The incident took place at Shalini Sahkari Bank Limited located on the 15th Road at NM Joshi Marg, said the police.

According to the police records, the accused entered the bank by removing the exhaust fan of the cashier’s room.

Police officials said the incident was discovered when the staff came to work on Saturday morning. They found the files shattered all over the office, and the outlet of the exhaust fan broken.

The cash kept inside the lockers was found to be missing.

The bank authorities then informed the NM Joshi Marg police. A dog squad was called to help in the investigation.

The forensic experts were also summoned to collect the fingerprints and other pieces of evidence. The police are questioning the staff and others. There were no closed-circuit-television cameras installed in the bank, the police said.

“Further investigation is on,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Suhas Warkhe.