Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Sept 2: A sensational burglary has rocked State Bank of India’s Mahananda Nagar branch in Ujjain, where miscreants fled with gold worth over ₹1 crore and cash of ₹8 lakh on Monday night. The audacious crime has not only raised questions about security lapses but also put the role of insiders under the scanner.
The Heist: Lock Broken, Crores Missing
When employees arrived at the branch on Tuesday morning, they were shocked to discover the strongroom locks broken and valuables missing. Soon after, they informed local police.
Gold ornaments worth over ₹1 crore were looted.
Cash of nearly ₹8 lakh was also stolen.
CCTV footage showed two miscreants fleeing from the spot late at night.
The case has rattled both the police and residents of the posh Mahananda Nagar area, known for its security and surveillance.
Police & Cyber Team Swing Into Action
The incident led to an immediate high-level response. Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma rushed to the site with officials from Madhav Nagar and Nanakheda police stations.
A forensic crime team and a cyber cell unit have been roped in.
CCTV cameras in nearby shops and residences are being scanned.
Police suspect the burglars had prior knowledge of the bank’s weak security.
SP Sharma stated, “This is not a random burglary. Someone with knowledge of the bank’s internal functioning is likely involved.”
CCTV Twist: Cameras Inside Bank Not Working
Adding a mysterious twist, it has emerged that the bank’s internal CCTV cameras were not functional due to a fire incident just two days earlier.
The fire damaged several cameras and alarm systems.
Burglars allegedly took advantage of the blind spot and planned the heist.
Only external cameras caught faint visuals of the suspects.
This has intensified suspicion that the crime was executed with insider help.
Employee Role Under Question
Police sources suggest that an insider may have tipped off the burglars about the bank’s non-functional security system.
Investigators are probing staff and contractual employees who had access to sensitive information.
Bank officials are being interrogated for possible negligence.
The possibility of collusion between employees and miscreants has not been ruled out.
Ujjain in Shock, Customers Worried
The news has spread panic among customers of the branch, many of whom have gold and cash deposits in SBI lockers.
Several depositors gathered outside the bank, demanding clarity.
Bank officials assured that customer deposits remain insured and safe.
Local traders’ associations have raised concerns over rising burglaries in Ujjain.
Recent Bank Security Breaches Raise Alarm
This burglary highlights a growing concern: banks in smaller cities often lack robust security measures.
Earlier this year, similar night-time break-ins were reported in Gwalior and Indore branches of private banks.
Experts say that malfunctioning cameras and weak alarm systems make banks easy targets.
In Ujjain itself, two ATM thefts have been reported in the last six months.
The Hunt for the Accused
Police teams have launched a manhunt to nab the two miscreants seen on CCTV.
Clues are being traced through vehicle movement near the bank.
The cyber team is analyzing mobile tower locations around the crime scene.
Raids are being carried out in Ujjain and nearby districts.
SP Sharma confirmed: “We are working on strong leads. The accused will be caught soon, and if employee involvement is proven, strict action will follow.”
Conclusion: An Inside Job?
The Ujjain SBI burglary is shaping up to be one of the biggest bank thefts in Madhya Pradesh in recent years. With crores looted, insiders suspected, and customers anxious, the incident has exposed glaring loopholes in banking security.
As investigations continue, all eyes are on whether the missing crores and gold can be recovered and whether this was indeed an inside job aided by bank staff.
