Hunt on for five robbers in gold heist at Telangana

Hyderabad: Telangana Police is tracking the five absconding robbers, who are on the run after decamping with around 40 kg of gold ornaments and Rs 1 lakh cash from a private financing firm in Sangareddy district yesterday.

A top cop today said that the local CCTV cameras (from adjacent buildings) showed that the offenders came in a black SUV and fled after looting the gold and cash from the Muthoot Finance branch under R C Puram police station area.

“They posed as CBI and police officials…Regarding their escape we are tracking them through various areas through various CCTVs installed at highways and national highways and we could track them upto neighbouring state (Karnataka) and from their the leads are yet to come,” Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Sharma told reporters here.

Seven teams are constantly pursuing the case under Cyberabad Joint Commissioner of Police, the DGP said adding “we are confident…We will detect it. We are sure that sooner or later we will catch them and bring them to book.”

Sharma said based on preliminary investigation they suspected the role of a gang which was previously involved in a similar offence in Karnataka.

The offenders had showed ID cards of CBI and police to the staff of the financial firm, under the pretext of checking and investigating the records.

They also told the staffers they had brought a thief along with them who they claimed had kept his stolen gold booty with the branch and also claimed of having information about the “irregularities” in the currency exchange process in the wake of demonetisation.

They got the lockers opened from the staff. However, as soon as the staff realised that something was amiss, the gang members allegedly threatened them at gunpoint and made away with around 40 kg gold ornaments and Rs 1 lakh cash, police had yesterday said.

The DGP said “even if the ID cards of CBI or police is shown, one can check the credentials and then cooperation should be given.

PTI