Satellite images help cops in money train wagon heist probe
Desperate for a breakthrough in the money wagon robbery case, the investigators from Tamil Nadu CB-CID have been scanning through the satellite images of Salem – Chennai train that travelled on the night of August 8, 2016, from which Rs 5.75 crore cash was stolen after making hole on top of the money wagon. The sleuths are yet to make any arrest in the case.
By : migrator
Update: 2018-08-27 21:16 GMT
Chennai
Every time a new officer assumes charge of the premier investigation agency in the State, fresh CB-CID teams are formed to investigate the twoyearold heist, one of the most high-profile cases in the State.
However, the investigators were hitting a dead end every time. The fresh squads were either visiting other states or collecting details of modus operandi. Now, in a positive development, the team has now identified a gang from Madhya Pradesh.
Satellite images indicated that the heist could have happened when the train was moving on the Salem – Villupuram stretch. When the investigators isolated and tracked the mobile phone numbers, which were active and moving on the stretch till Villupuram, they reportedly found that all the phone numbers belonged a group from Madhya Pradesh.
It was the first-time the police were coming across (were able to figure out) the manner in which the thieves worked on August 8 night in Salem – Chennai train. Targeting the wagon carrying the boxes filled with cash containing Rs 342 crore, the burglars made hole on top of the coach and escaped with Rs 5.75 crore in Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations.
After repeatedly failing to come out with any results, fresh teams were formed in August last year, which began investigation from the scratch so that they could look at possible new angles.
A total of 1.15 lakh notes of old Rs.500, kept in two boxes, weighing about 132 kg, were stolen after cutting open the roof of the money wagon, attached to the train, which reached Egmore railway station at 5 am on August 9.
The incident took place three months before the government scrapped all the old Rs 500 notes.
The RBI was transporting a total of Rs 342.70 crore of old and used notes, collected from various banks in Salem and nearby areas, when the gang escaped with the money.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android