The Surat Crime Branch apprehended two individuals from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the Rs 50 lakh armed robbery at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Varachha. The incident, orchestrated by an interstate gang allegedly led by a Bihar-based mastermind operating from jail, occurred on April 27 at the SBI branch on L.H. Road.
During the robbery, a group of five or more men, aged between 25 and 30, entered the bank posing as customers. They brandished weapons, including pistols, and held staff and customers hostage while looting Rs 50 lakh, along with seizing mobile phones. The gang disabled the alarm system and fled on motorcycles after nearly an hour.
The accused utilized fake registration plates on motorcycles stolen from various locations. They had also prepared fake Aadhaar cards and rented houses in different areas for two months before executing the robbery. The gang meticulously planned the heist, conducting reconnaissance and studying bank layouts and staff movements.
Police identified the mastermind as Kundan Kumar alias Kundan Bhagat, currently incarcerated in Bihar. Two suspects, Shubham Kumar and Vikas Singh, were arrested in Uttar Pradesh. Shubham Kumar, the prime accused, was apprehended after evading authorities for three days, while Vikas Singh provided post-robbery assistance and received a share of the stolen money.
