Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh): In a major daylight robbery, armed miscreants looted cash and gold worth around ₹15 crore from the Bank of Maharashtra branch in Singrauli district, police said. The incident has triggered a massive investigation, and two accused have already been detained in connection with the case.
According to officials, the incident took place at the Baidhan branch in Singrauli when a group of around five armed men stormed the bank during business hours. The attackers reportedly threatened staff and customers at gunpoint and forced bank officials to open lockers and cash counters. The entire operation lasted only around 15 minutes before the gang escaped with valuables.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the criminals had prior knowledge of the bank layout and targeted gold kept under loan pledges along with cash from the vault. Police sources said the stolen assets included several kilograms of pledged gold ornaments and a significant amount of cash, with the total estimated value reaching nearly ₹15 crore.
Following the incident, local police rushed to the spot and launched an extensive search operation. CCTV footage from inside and outside the bank is being carefully examined to identify all members of the gang and trace their escape route. Checkpoints have been set up across nearby districts, and teams have been deployed to track possible interstate movement of the accused.
Authorities confirmed that two suspects have been detained during the initial phase of the investigation. Officials are questioning them to determine their role in the robbery and to gather information about the remaining members of the gang. Police believe the crime may have involved a well-organised network with prior planning and coordination.
Senior police officers, including district and state-level officials, are monitoring the investigation closely. Security has been tightened at all banks in the region following the incident.
The robbery has raised serious concerns over bank security in Madhya Pradesh, especially in semi-urban areas. Officials have assured that strict action will be taken against all those involved and efforts are underway to recover the stolen money and gold.
The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected as police continue to pursue multiple leads in the case.
