Kotekar Co-op Bank dacoity case: 4 arrested; nearly 18 kg gold, Rs 3.8 lakh cash recovered: Commissioner

Kotekar Co-op Bank dacoity case: 4 arrested; nearly 18 kg gold, Rs 3.8 lakh cash recovered: Commissioner

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 27, 2025: City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal who addressed a press meet on January 27, Monday announced the arrest of four persons in connection with the Kotekar Co-operative Bank dacoity case.

Those arrested are Murugandi Thevar (36), who is a notorious criminal, his father Shanmugasundaram, Yosovo Rajendran (35) and Kannan Mani (36).

The Commissioner said during interrogation, the accused divulged the name of Shashi Thevar who happens to be a local. Police are investigating his role in the daring daylight robbery.

The police have recovered 2 kg gold from three accused while 16 kg gold was found in the house of Shanmugasundaram. Police also recovered Rs 3.8 lakh out of the Rs 11 lakh stolen from the bank.

The Commissioner said the accused came to know each other in Taloja prison in 2016. They were hatching a plot to rob the bank since six months and the main accused had travelled to Mangaluru thrice to study the bank’s location, entry and exit points. They chose Friday for the daylight heist as many locals would be attending prayers.

While Murugandi and three men travelled from Mumbai in a Fiat, the others travelled by train. They changed the number plates twice near Shirur gate where fake Maharashtra registration was used while again the number plate was changed at Suratkal with a fake Karnataka registration.

They gathered in Suratkal and then executed their plan after which three fled to Kerala via Talapady in the car while the other three travelled by train.

In all police seized 18.314 kg gold. Apart from Rs 3.8 lakh cash, police seized 2 pistols with 3 live bullets, 2 machetes, a Fiat care and fake number plate.

Police Commissioner said a meeting with bank officials would be held next week to prevent such incidents through enhanced security measures.

DCP Siddarth Goyal, ACP Dhanya Nayak and other police officials were present.