A major theft of ₹21 lakhs has been reported from the Baroda UP Bank branch located at Sanwara Chatti under the jurisdiction of Rasra police station in Ballia district. The incident came to light on Monday, prompting swift action from law enforcement.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Omveer Singh, Area Officer Fahim Qureshi, and Inspector Ratnesh Singh visited the site along with a police team to investigate. A forensic team also arrived to collect evidence from the scene. However, the details surrounding the theft remain unclear, and the police have launched a full-scale investigation.
No Signs of Forced Entry
SP Omveer Singh stated that there were no signs of forced entry at the bank. “It appears that someone opened the lock to enter and exited by easily opening the latch,” he explained.
Suspicion of Internal Involvement
The SP revealed that the theft involved money stored in the bank’s cash chest, which requires two keys to open—one held by the cashier and the other by the branch manager. “The branch manager informed us that the money from the cash chest is missing. However, the cash chest can only be opened when both keys are used together,” Singh said.
Based on the initial investigation, the police suspect possible internal involvement. “The circumstances suggest the involvement of someone familiar with the bank’s operations,” added the SP.
Investigation Underway
To uncover the truth, three teams have been formed under the leadership of Additional Superintendent of Police (North) Anil Kumar Jha. These teams include officers from the Rasra area and the surveillance unit.
SP Omveer Singh assured that the case is being thoroughly investigated and expressed confidence that the mystery surrounding the theft will be resolved soon.