In one of Karnataka’s most audacious bank heists, the Vijayapura district police have arrested three individuals, including a senior manager of Canara Bank, in connection with the theft of nearly 59 kilograms of gold worth Rs53.26 crore from the bank’s Managuli branch.
Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi confirmed the arrests of:
Vijayakumar Mohanara Miriyala (41) – Senior Manager at Canara Bank
Chandrashekar Kotilingam Nerella (38)
Sunil Narrasimhalu Moka (40)
Police have recovered Rs10.75 crore worth of gold ornaments and bars, as well as two cars used during the crime. The robbery took place between May 23 and 25, sending shockwaves through the banking industry.
According to investigators, the crime was meticulously planned and executed using insider information. The suspects:
Broke open the main entrance lock
Disabled the alarm system
Used a duplicate locker key
Targeted only one specific locker containing the gold
Interestingly, another locker was left untouched, underscoring the precise intelligence the culprits had prior to the crime.
Adding a strange twist, the thieves left behind a black doll at the crime scene—suspected to be an attempt to invoke black magic superstition and throw off investigators.
They also removed the bank’s CCTV system, and planted misleading clues inside the branch to divert police attention.
SP Nimbargi launched eight specialized teams led by senior officers including additional SPs Shankar Marihal and Ramanagouda Hatti, along with DySPs TS Sulpi, Sunil Kamble, and Ballappa Nandgavi. These teams coordinated across states to track the accused and recover stolen assets.
The case is registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — Sections 331(3), 331(4), and 305(E) — and is progressing swiftly due to scientific investigation and digital forensics.
All three accused were produced in court on June 26, and police are continuing their search for additional suspects and the remaining stolen gold.
SP Nimbargi praised his team’s efforts and vowed to bring every individual involved to justice, calling it “one of the most high-profile bank robberies in recent memory.”
