Bengaluru: Gold worth Rs. 30 lakh kept in bank’s safe locker goes missing

Bengaluru: An alleged case of theft has been reported from a private bank at Yelahanka, in which, half kg of gold jewellery worth Rs. 30 lakhs are stolen.

The complainant, B N Krishnakumar (61) of Yelahanka, told police that the gold worth about Rs 30 lakhs was stolen from the safe locker jointly owned by him and his son at a reputed private bank in the suburb of Yelahanka.

On June 8 this year, Krishnakumar said, he had deposited gold weighing 580 grams in the bank locker. Thereafter, he left for Germany to visit his son.

After returning from the trip, Krishnakumar visited the bank on November 10 to retrieve the gold from the safe. However, he was shocked to find the gold missing from the coded box.

When he flagged the issue to the bank manager, he was told to revisit it after 3 days. When he went to the bank again after 3 days, Krishnakumar said,  the bank manager feigned ignorance and directed him to approach the police.

The complainant said he suspects the bank staff may have been involved in the theft.

Meanwhile, sources said, the bank manager did not report for police inquiry citing illness.

The method by which the gold was stolen from the bank safe has stumped the police investigators. Two sets of keys – one from the customer and another from the bank — are required to open the safe. Moreover, banks send SMS messages every time the locker is opened. The complainant said he did not receive any message about the safe being opened.

Police sources said that notices have been issued to the bank manager and the staff to report for questioning. The truth will come to light only after the questioning is complete, they added.