Bank Assistant Manager Arrested for Stealing ₹1.6 Crore from His Own Branch; Scooter Footage Leads to Breakthrough

A bank assistant manager steals ₹1.6 crore from his own branch strongroom; police recover major amount and arrest him within hours after tracing scooter footage.

Pune, 26 November 2025: A dramatic case of insider fraud has come to light after a 32-year-old assistant manager of a nationalised bank was arrested for stealing nearly ₹1.6 crore from the strongroom of his own branch. The theft took place late at night, when the accused allegedly used his technical access and knowledge of internal systems to break into the strongroom and decamp with cash stuffed into bags. The next morning, when bank staff opened the branch, they found the strongroom lock tampered with, CCTV connections disabled and cash missing — an indication that the crime had been committed by someone familiar with the bank’s security procedures.

Investigators quickly zeroed in on the assistant manager after reviewing external CCTV cameras positioned near the bank. Although the accused had attempted to remove internal footage and DVRs, one key detail betrayed him — an outside camera captured him arriving on a scooter with empty bags and later leaving with visibly heavier bags. This single clip completely overturned the initial suspicion of an external burglary and pointed towards a meticulously planned inside job.

Police teams moved swiftly and detained the accused within hours. A search of his residence led to the recovery of more than ₹96 lakh in cash, along with the scooter used in the heist, multiple bags, electronic devices, and other evidence. Officers stated that the accused had attempted to divert suspicion by cutting power lines, removing storage devices, and wiping surfaces to eliminate fingerprints. Despite these elaborate attempts, his plan was ultimately undone by overlooked external CCTV coverage.

During interrogation, the assistant manager reportedly admitted that he was under severe financial strain due to personal loans and online gambling debts. Investigators believe that this financial pressure pushed him to commit the crime, taking advantage of his role, access rights, and understanding of bank operations. The case has reignited concerns within the banking sector about insider threats — a risk that many experts argue is more dangerous than external robberies. Unlike outsiders, employees with clearance can bypass multiple security layers, making detection more difficult and damage more severe.

Industry observers are calling for stricter internal protocols, including multi-level authorisation for strongroom access, enhanced employee background checks, off-site mirror backups for CCTV systems, and mandatory dual control for cash movement. The incident also highlights the importance of psychological and financial counselling for employees handling high-value assets, as financial distress often plays a role in insider fraud.

Police have charged the accused with theft, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to trace the remaining cash and determine whether anyone else was involved. However, early indications suggest the assistant manager acted alone, relying heavily on his knowledge of the bank’s security layout to orchestrate the theft.

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