MUMBAI: The cash van transporting around Rs 4.3 crore stolen by its driver on Thursday evening, was found abandoned in Kalyan Naka in Bhiwandi, around 44km from Virar. All the cash was missing from the van.
The van belonging to a cash logistics company was fitted with a live GPS tracking system. While police had zeroed down the van's last location at Bhiwandi since Thursday night, cops were finding it difficult to track the exact location of the vehicle as the driver Rohit Aaru (26) is believed to have tampered with the GPS.
Aaru, was driving the van that was loading money in ATMs in the Vasai-Virar region ahead of Diwali. On Thursday at around 5.30pm, when the two cash custodians and armed security guard entered the Kotak Mahindra Bank ATM at Bolinj, Virar (west) to stock up cash in the kiosk, Aaru drove away with the vehicle. It had around Rs 4.3 crore.
Three police teams have been formed to track down Aaru. A team visited his Chembur home and questioned his family members. His cellphone has been kept for tracking. Police have not ruled out the involvement of more people, including some persons in the know of the cash transportation procedure. The cash custodians and security guards are being questioned.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Aaru does not have a past criminal history. He had joined the private firm, responsible for transportation of bank cash to ATMs a few months ago.
Additional superintendent of police Sanjay Patil confirmed that the van was abandoned at Kalyan naka. It is not clear which vehicle was used to carry the cash-filled trucks beyond Kalyan naka.
Police have examined closed circuit television images along the routes leading to Kalyan naka.