Bank staff behind ATM heist wanted to settle loan

Chennai

The man was identified as D Sivanandhan (39) of West Mambalam, who used to work at the Maduravoyal branch three years ago before being transferred to the Ambattur branch of the bank. His wife is a government staff in the Home department, who is now posted at the Secretariat.

After interrogation, officials said Sivanandhan looted the ATM to settle a housing loan that he had availed to build a house in his hometown Thoothukudi. As the staff at the Maduravoyal branch did not change the password of the ATM chest, Sivanandhan managed to loot the ATM with ease.

The incident happened around 12.30 pm on Sunday on MMDA East Main Road in Maduravoyal. A masked man who reached in an autorickshaw told the security guard that he has to spray disinfectant and entered the cabin. Another person who entered the kiosk a few minutes later found the man taking out the cash from the ATM chest. But he waited outside thinking the man inside the cabin was an employee. However, after the person hurriedly left the premises with cash in the same autorickshaw, the second person grew suspicious and alerted the security guard.

The guard immediately contacted the branch manager Rajkumar who rushed to the spot. Rajkumar found out that more than Rs 8 lakh was missing from the ATM. Based on his complaint, the Maduravoyal police registered a case and secured the suspect overnight. Officials said Sivanandhan would soon be remanded in judicial custody.