Trio staged ATM heist to mislead cops

The Bagalagunte police arrested Sagar (21), custodian of Secure Well Security Service agency, on Wednesday in connection with robbing cash of Rs 18.5 lakh while replenishing cash in an ICICI ATM kiosk near Jalahalli Cross on Monday.

Sagar's involvement was revealed after Malavalli Town Police arrested V Nitin and B Rakesh, while they were quarreling over the issue of sharing the stolen money in a drunken state in Malavalli in Mandya district on Tuesday.

Police said Rakesh was earlier working in the same agency and quit the job recently. He came in contact with Sagar while working at the agency. Both made a plan to loot the money a month back and asked for Nitin's help. Nitin is Rakesh's friend. They hatched a plan rob the cash. Nitin who is a chain snatcher agreed to go with the plan. Sagar told the duo to come near the ICICI ATM in Jalahalli around 6.30 am on Monday. They snatched the bag from him and also attacked him to make it look like a robbery. Sagar (21) is from Honnavar, Nitin from Banaganahalli in Malavalli taluk, Rakesh is from Bochchikopplu in Nagamangala taluk. Nitin and Rakesh are both residents of Nandini Layout.

Police added that, "The trio met in Nandini Layout on Monday at 4 am and decided to execute the 'robbery' the same day. Sagar went to office and the duo were waiting near Jalahalli Cross. When Sagar came to replenish the cash to ATM kiosk, the duo 'attacked' Sagar and 'robbed' the cash from him. Bagalagunte police said, "As Sagar was badly injured, we didn't suspect him at first. But later we checked the Call Record Details (CDR) for the same period. Malavalli police arrested Nitin and Rakesh. The details tallied and we confirmed Sagar's involvement in the crime. He will be produced before the court on Thursday."