Bank Clerk Nabbed for High-Value Locker Theft in Jamshedpur
Police in Jamshedpur have made a significant arrest in a case involving the theft of gold jewellery valued at approximately Rs 30 lakh from a bank locker. The accused, identified as Shatrughan Kumar Chaudhary (38), was employed as a clerk at the Zakirnagar branch of the Bank of Baroda.
The Complaint and Investigation
The case came to light when the bank manager, Md. Azharuddin, filed an official theft report at the Azadnagar police station on November 11. According to Officer in-charge Chandan Kumar, the investigation was swiftly launched. The police team meticulously scanned the bank's CCTV footage, which played a pivotal role in identifying the suspect.
The footage revealed Chaudhary's involvement in the crime. A resident of Post Office Road in Mango, Chaudhary had been working at the bank for about two years, a position of trust he ultimately betrayed.
How the Theft Was Executed
The sequence of events that led to the theft began in June, when the bank manager went on a four-day leave. During this period, the manager entrusted the locker keys to Chaudhary, a routine procedural handover. This access provided Chaudhary with the opportunity he later exploited.
The theft remained undetected for several months. It was only during a routine bank audit in November that the shocking discovery was made: several gold items were missing from the locker. An internal inquiry quickly pointed towards irregularities, leading to the police complaint.
Confession and Arrest
Following his identification through CCTV evidence, Shatrughan Kumar Chaudhary was taken into custody by the Azadnagar police. During interrogation, Chaudhary confessed to committing the crime, admitting to stealing the high-value gold jewellery. His arrest marks a crucial step in recovering the stolen property and delivering justice.
This incident raises serious concerns about internal security protocols within financial institutions, especially regarding the handling of master keys and dual controls for customer lockers. Banks routinely assure customers of the safety of their valuables, but breaches by trusted employees pose a unique challenge.
The Jamshedpur police have successfully solved the case, highlighting the importance of surveillance systems in modern crime detection. The investigation is now focused on recovering the stolen gold items and determining if the accused acted alone or had accomplices.
