JOIN USA cash custodian and his two associates swindled away Rs 1.93 crore they should have loaded in the ATMs across the city.
Police arrested Shankar (38), employee of a cash management firm who resides in Rajendranagar in Koramangala, his friends Avinash (29) and Basavaraj (36). Avinash is a native of Chikkamagaluru, while Basavaraj lives in BTM Layout.
Around eight months ago, Shankar joined SIS Prosegur Holdings Pvt Ltd (SISCO) on Anepalya main road in Gajendra Nagar.
A senior police official said the firm recruited him after its HR department did a background check. Shankar was given the task of loading cash machines across the city.
Police said Shankar and his friends planned to steal the cash in parts. He stole Rs 1.93 crore on three instances from February 4 while out to fill the ATM machines with the knowledge of the colleagues who accompanied him.
Each time, Shankar would divert the colleague’s attention in the pretext of helping them while pocketing the cash. He would return home and hide the cash with the help of his friends.
During their month-end audit, SISCO found Rs 2.19 crore missing and their internal inquiry revealed that Shankar handled the money.
The firm’s senior staff Narendra Singh Gurung filed a police complaint accusing Shankar and his colleague of duping the company, but police inquiry revealed that the colleague was innocent.
“Since Shankar had access to lot of cash, the trio planned the theft and dreamt of getting rich overnight,” a senior police official said.
“We’re in the process of recovering the cash, which they hid in different places. The accused are currently in police custody,” the official added.