Bengaluru Cash-Van Heist: Men Impersonate Tax Officials, Flee With ~₹7 Crore

Bengaluru Cash-Van Heist: Men Impersonate Tax Officials, Flee With ~₹7 Crore

BENGALURU, November 19, 2025 — In a brazen daylight robbery, a gang of men posing as Central Government tax officers (and allegedly as Reserve Bank of India officials) intercepted an ATM cash van in Bengaluru and escaped with around ₹7 crore.

How the Heist Unfolded

• The incident occurred near the Ashoka Pillar area in Jayanagar around noon, when a CMS Logistics cash van transporting cash from HDFC Bank’s JP Nagar branch was stopped.
• A Toyota Innova, bearing a “Government of India” sticker, blocked the path.
• Five to eight men exited the Innova, claiming to be officials from the Income Tax Department initially, and later identified as posing as RBI officials.
• They forced the cash van staff — including the custodian and two armed guards — into their car, while instructing the van driver to proceed.
• The gang then directed the driver to Dairy Circle flyover, where they brandished a pistol and forced him to stop.
• All cash boxes, totaling approximately ₹7.11 crore, were transferred to another vehicle, and the criminals fled.
• The robbers also removed the van’s DVR, disabling internal CCTV footage.

Investigation & Aftermath

• The Siddapura police station is leading the probe.
• Authorities have launched a city-wide manhunt, set up multiple roadblocks (nakabandi), and are analyzing over 50 CCTV feeds to track the robbers.
• Two Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and a Joint Commissioner have been assigned to special teams overseeing the investigation.
• Police are scrutinizing how the gang knew about the cash movement, raising the possibility of insider assistance.
• The exact stolen amount is still being verified, as there are inconsistencies in the statements given by the van driver. 

Reactions & Concerns

• Home Minister G. Parameshwara called the heist “probably never happened in Bengaluru before,” underlining the audacity of the crime.
• Police and security experts are deeply concerned about security lapses in cash transport operations — especially how impersonators gained access and executed the raid so smoothly.
• There is growing public outcry, with calls for stricter regulation and better protection for cash-in-transit operations.

What Makes This Case Particularly Alarming

1. Impersonation of high-level officials: The criminals claimed to be from the Income Tax Department and RBI, leveraging the authority such roles command.
2. Fake government vehicle: The getaway Innova had a fake number plate and a “Government of India” sticker, making their act more convincing.
3. Inside planning: Their knowledge of cash van timings, route, and amount suggests detailed intelligence.
4. CCTV disabling: By removing the DVR from the van, the robbers made it harder to trace them via internal cameras. 

What’s Next: Authorities are intensifying the hunt, coordinating across law-enforcement wings, and scanning highway toll booths for the vehicle’s potential escape route. Meanwhile, the cash van company and banks will likely review their security protocols in cash transit operations.