Like snatching a kid’s lollypop

Guidelines, and common sense, say that a huge amount of cash should be transported only in custom-made vehicles with special security features. But do you know what kind of vehicle was Corporation Bank using to transport crores of rupees to its ATMs? A simple taxi hired from a private travel agency.

The Chevrolet Tavera from which `1.91 crore were looted belongs to a private travel agency—Saravana Travel Agency. Additional commissioner of police (law and order), T Suneel Kumar, said Cash Management Services—the agency the bank had hired to transport cash to ATMs—was transporting the cash in the plain Jane passenger vehicle. Instead, the company was supposed to use custom-made cash carrying vehicle (CMCCV) with elaborate security arrangements.

Suneel Kumar pointed out that the vehicle used by CMS lacked in all the security features and was an easy prey. He said the authorities concerned totally failed in ensuring safety of the money being transported. He said the police would question the bank officials concerned and CMS in this regard. He said action could be taken against the officials and the security agency too.
Further, Kumar pointed out that the gunman accompanying the vehicle was just a mute spectator when the action was unfolding. He said even though the gunman had a single-barrel gun, he did not fire on the miscreants. This, he said, showed that the gunman was not trained.

Joint commissioner of police (crime), east, B Dayananda, said the Tavera the bank was using had glaring security lapses. Besides the non-existent metal grill and chain-clamping system, the vehicle was not even equipped with GPS, which would have enabled the bank to keep track of the vehicle’s movement.

Dayananda said the police were in touch with the officials concerned of CMS, the travel agency the car belonged to and the security agency hired to give protection to the vehicle. He said the officials would have to face thorough interrogation on Tuesday and action would be taken against those found guilty.

Underlining negligence of the security agency, Kumar said more than one gunman should accompany vehicles carrying cash, but this vehicle had only one, and that too an untrained one. He said it was appalling that the car did not have an alarm installed and had neither a double-locking system nor bullet-proof glasses. He said as CMS had hired a normal, passenger vehicle, it was but obvious that the vehicle would not have special security features like clamps to fasten chains locking the cash boxes.

Nevertheless, Kumar said, the company officials should have taken some initiatives to make the MUV secure. Had that been the case, it would not have become a sitting duck for the miscreants.

Highlighting the degree of care that has to be taken regarding such vehicles, the AddlCP said people deployed with the vehicle should not talk about it in public. It should only be an official vehicle and a rented vehicle should never be used for the purpose. The main thing, Kumar said, is that the vehicles carrying cash should change routes frequently so that miscreants do not become familiar with the route. He noted that on Monday, it was for the first time that the vehicle took a different route—the driver chose to go through residential area instead of 80-Feet Road—and it was on this route that the heist took place. He said this seemed more than just a coincidence.