After the recent Jajpur and Mayurbhanj ATM heists, miscreants have managed to loot another SBI ATM and decamp with Rs27,98,700 cash at Kuarmunda area in Sundargarh district on Sunday afternoon. Police and ATM experts are investigating the case, while two persons have been detained for interrogation.
Sources said, on Saturday morning, the SBI authorities had filled Rs14,19,300 in the ATM counter, coming under the Birmitrapur police station. The same day, again Rs21,80,000 was stored in the ATM.
The machine was functioning properly till 9.30 pm on Saturday. But on Sunday, when customers went to withdraw cash, the ATM booth was found dark and the bottoms of machine were not functioning. The customers informed it to the ATM section and SBI authorities.
Soon, ATM experts, bank authorities and Birmitrapur police rushed to the spot. On verifying, they found no damage in machine, but were shocked to see that it was left with no cash.
Between the refilling of the ATM on Saturday and the discovery of the incident on Sunday, it was found that the customers had withdrawn Rs8,00, 600, while the rest Rs27,98,700 was found missing.
Meanwhile, it is now being suspected that the miscreants hacked the ATM password and thereby managed to steal the cash. A scientific team has conducted an inquiry and verified the CCTV footage in the ATM. It was found that the heist took place between 4.30 am to 6 am on Sunday. The involvement of bank officials who deal with the ATM cannot be ruled out, sources said.
Significantly, the ATM loot case has resemblances with the recent SBI ATM heists of Balichandrapur in Jajapur district and of Bahalda in Mayurbhanj district.