Police in Ahmedabad have launched an investigation after a significant sum of money was stolen from an automated banking machine in a prominent city mall. The incident highlights emerging security challenges around self-service banking kiosks.
Theft from Cash Recycling Machine
The Anandnagar police registered a formal case on Thursday following a complaint of theft involving ₹49,000 from a Cash Recycling Machine (CRM). The machine is installed within an e-gallery of the Bank of India branch located at Titanium Mall on Shyamal Crossroads.
The crime, which occurred on December 4, 2025, was reported by Vijay Maheria (45), the manager of the bank branch. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the issue first came to light when a customer reported a failed transaction.
How the Incident Unfolded
The chain of events began when a customer, Darshan Upadhyay from Nikol, attempted to deposit ₹49,000 into the CRM on the night of December 3, between 10:15 PM and 10:30 PM. Upadhyay informed bank staff that the machine's tray closed abruptly without completing the transaction. He received neither a printed receipt nor a credit confirmation message on his mobile phone.
When bank officials checked the CRM internally, they found ₹89,000 inside, but the ₹49,000 deposited by Upadhyay was not accounted for. The bank then contacted the service provider for the machine, who confirmed there was no technical record of the disputed amount being credited to any account.
CCTV Footage Reveals Suspects
The investigation took a decisive turn after authorities reviewed security camera footage from the e-gallery. The CCTV recording showed that on December 4, at approximately 6:48 AM, two unidentified men entered the unmanned banking kiosk.
The footage captured the duo manipulating the CRM's cash tray using a tool, successfully removing ₹49,000 before quickly fleeing the scene. The police have registered an offence of theft against these two unknown individuals and are pursuing further leads.
The delay in filing the police complaint was attributed to the time required to gather technical audit reports and obtain the crucial CCTV footage from the bank's IT department. The Anandnagar police are now actively investigating the case to identify and apprehend the suspects.
