NATIONAL: Daring Heist: Rs.21 Crore Stolen from SBI in Vijayapura
Bold Robbery in Chadchan
On the evening of September 16, 2025, masked robbers stormed a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Chadchan, Vijayapura district, Karnataka, looting approximately Rs.21 crore in gold and cash.
The assailants, reportedly armed with pistols and knives, overpowered bank staff at around 6:30 PM, just as the branch was preparing to close.
This audacious heist has sparked alarm, marking the second major bank robbery in the district within four months.
Military-Style Operation
Eyewitnesses reported that the robbers, dressed in military-style uniforms, tied up employees and threatened the manager to prevent the alarm from being triggered.
They swiftly accessed the strong room, making off with 20 kg of gold ornaments valued at Rs.20 crore and Rs.1 crore in cash.
A customer who entered the bank during the robbery alerted the police, enabling a rapid response.
Investigation Underway
Vijayapura Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi is overseeing a thorough investigation, with forensic experts and a dog squad deployed to the scene.
The robbers fled in a Suzuki EVA vehicle with a fake number plate, last traced toward Pandharpur, Maharashtra.
A joint operation by Karnataka and Maharashtra police is ongoing to apprehend the suspects, believed to number more than three.
Regional Crime Concerns
This incident follows a similar robbery in May 2025 at a Canara Bank in Vijayapura, where the Khadimara gang stole 58 kg of gold and Rs.5.2 lakh in cash after disabling CCTV cameras and power lines.
The recurrence of such high-profile heists has raised questions about security measures at banks in the region.
Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and staff statements to identify the perpetrators.