The modus operandi is time-tested. An unidentified person drops currency notes near a car, draws attention of the driver and makes away with the booty. 

This is how a man lifted a bag containing Rs 30 lakh from a car on Thursday afternoon in Ashoknagar police station limits.

According to the police, Mirza Ahmad Aga (65), a resident of Koramangala, his brother Mirza Firoz Ali (70) and Mirza Ibni Ali (32), Firoz’s son, went to Canara Bank in Langford Town. They withdrew Rs 30 lakh and got two demand drafts for Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 57,500.

They reached Brigade Road in a car and parked the vehicle opposite St Patrick’s Church. There, Aga went to a shop. Firoz’s advocate called him and asked him to get photo copies of the DDs. Firoz asked Ibni to do the same.

Clever trick
Within seconds, a man came near the car and asked Firoz whether the three notes fallen near rear wheel of the car belonged to him. Firoz got down, picked up a Rs 100 note, two Rs 20 notes and a Rs 10 note and returned to the car.

After a few minutes, Ibni and Aga returned. They were shocked to see the cash bag kept on the rear seat missing.

They asked Firoz about the bag and realised how the man had taken them for a ride.

“A gang from Ramajeevan Nagar in Trichy may be behind the incident. We have launched a massive search operation to nab the accused,” said Halasuru Gate sub-division ACP B B Ashok Kumar.

“The Bangalore City Central Division convened a meeting of 80 bank managers on Wednesday to brief them about the safety measures to be taken when customers withdraw heavy amounts.  They have instructed customers to be accompanied by two or three persons while withdrawing such amounts,”  DCP (Central) B N S Reddy said.
Two teams have been sent to Tamil Nadu to nab the accused, he added.