Armed Robbers in Military Uniform Loot 58 Kg Gold and ₹8 Crore Cash from SBI Branch

Vijayapura (The Uttam Hindu): A sensational robbery shook Karnataka’s Vijayapura district on Tuesday evening when five masked men dressed in military-style uniforms stormed into a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Chadchan town. The armed robbers looted 58 kilograms of gold and ₹8 crore in cash, leaving the entire region in shock.

According to police, the incident occurred around 5 p.m. The gang entered the bank, threatened employees at gunpoint, prevented them from triggering the alarm, and tied them with ropes. They then broke into the vault and fled with gold and cash worth an estimated ₹60 crore.

The white getaway car used by the robbers was later discovered abandoned on Wednesday morning in Pandharpur, Solapur district of Maharashtra. Police recovered ropes, masks, and other materials from the vehicle, suggesting the gang switched transport during their escape.

Karnataka and Maharashtra police have launched a joint search operation across Pandharpur, Solapur, and border areas. Dog squads, forensic experts, and CCTV footage analysis are being used to track the culprits.

Vijayapura SP Laxman Nimbargi and other senior officials rushed to the spot and confirmed that multiple teams are working on the case. Authorities believe this is the work of an organized crime syndicate, possibly linked to previous bank heists in Karnataka, including the theft of 17 kg of gold from an SBI branch in Davanagere district a few months ago.

Bank officials said the stolen gold mostly consisted of pledged jewelry belonging to customers, while the cash was part of daily transactions.

Police are confident of cracking the case soon, but the massive robbery has raised serious questions about security at bank branches.