HYDERABAD: Gachibowli police have arrested a driver who allegedly fled with ₹56 lakh from an ATM cash replenishment vehicle earlier this month and recovered ₹34.90 lakh from him.
Narsingi Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramana Goud said the theft took place on February 12 in Gopanpally Thanda when cash was being supplied to ATMs. Based on a complaint, Gachibowli police station registered Crime No. 278/2026 under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and began an investigation.
Accused tracked through CCTV and technical evidence
During the probe, police examined the scene, collected CCTV footage and analysed technical evidence. The accused was identified as Badigere Ajith Kumar alias Shiva, 34, a resident of Diamond Point in Secunderabad and a driver with Sangam Security Agency. He hails from Bommanahal in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
Police said Ajith Kumar took advantage of his colleagues being outside the vehicle while cash was being loaded into an ATM. He drove away with the vehicle and cash, misled co-workers for some time, and later reached Gaddar Chowrasta and Nallagandla. He removed the trunk box containing the cash, abandoned the vehicle there and fled in an autorickshaw.
Used blade to open cash box, travelled across cities
The same night, he checked into a lodge at RTC Cross Roads posing as a regular traveller. He allegedly opened the cash box using a blade, transferred the money into a bag and travelled to Anantapur on February 13.
Police said he moved between Ballari, Bengaluru and Pune to evade arrest.
Based on technical tracking of his movements, police apprehended him at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad on Tuesday morning. During questioning, officers seized ₹34,90,000 from him and conducted a seizure panchanama.
The accused allegedly confessed to spending the remaining money for personal expenses. He was produced before a court and remanded.
Police said action would be initiated against Sangam Security Agency under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, for negligence in driver recruitment.
They also appreciated SVR Bus Travels driver Umakant for alerting police after noticing the accused's suspicious movements.
The case was cracked under the supervision of DCP Serilingampally Zone C.H. Srinivas and Additional DCP Uday Kumar Reddy, with support from the Narsingi CCS and Madhapur teams.