Bengaluru: Police are searching for five staffers from a cash logistic firm, including a woman, after they allegedly misappropriated nearly Rs 1.4 crore in cash, meant to be deposited in different Automated Teller Machine (ATM) kiosks.According to police, two separate FIRs were registered by officials from HITACHI Payment Service Pvt Ltd. “Two teams were assigned the task of filling the cash. Both cheated the firm by not depositing the money. Two accused men were there in both teams,” a senior police officer said.According to the complaints, the cheating was carried out from April 2024. However, it was noticed on Jan 19 during an internal audit, and on the same day, complaints were lodged.The suspects were identified as Praveen Kumar, Dhanashekhar, Harish Kumar, Varun, and their female colleague, Ramakka.HOW IT WAS DONE“Praveen and Harish were common to both teams. They drove cash-filled vans from Axis Bank in Koramangala to different ATM kiosks. While depositing, they filled less than the stipulated amount, and did this multiple times. At irregular intervals, they filled less cash, but mentioned in the records that they deposited the original amount. However, during internal audit, the deficit was noticed, and it was soon discovered that the suspects misappropriated the funds,” a senior police officer said.Based on the complaints, cops booked cases under BNS Sections 316 (criminal breach of trust) and 318 (cheating). “All the suspects switched off their mobile phones and became incommunicado. Our teams visited their houses, but in vain. We will trace them soon,” an investigating officer said.
