Jabalpur bank heist: How robbery was planned inside CG jail; 4 plotters held

JABALPUR: A week after the dramatic Khitola bank heist, police have arrested four suspects but have yet to recover the nearly 15 kg of gold stolen in broad daylight. Authorities revealed on Sunday that the robbery was masterminded inside Raigarh jail, Chhattisgarh.The arrested include Raees Singh Lodhi of Patan, Hemraj, Vikas Chakravarty, and Sonu Varman. Police seized Rs 1.83 lakh in cash, two motorcycles, a country-made pistol with cartridges, and four mobile phones.The crime occurred on August 11 at 8:50 am, when three helmeted men stormed the Khitola ESAF Small Finance Bank branch, held four staff at gunpoint, and fled with gold and cash worth crores. Two accomplices waited outside on motorcycles. The gang escaped within 20 minutes, changing clothes later in Indrana before splitting up.CCTV and surveillance helped police trace their movements. Findings showed Lodhi, imprisoned on a narcotics charge in Raigarh jail, allied with a Jharkhand gang jailed for robbery. Lodhi arranged a rented house in Indrana with Sonu Varman's help; Hemraj financed a motorcycle used in the crime, while Chakravarty arranged food and train tickets for the gang's return journey carrying the gold.Police said the gang promised local accomplices their share once the gold was melted into biscuits."We have arrested four and recovered weapons, vehicles, and cash. Five teams are tracking the absconding Jharkhand gang members," said Additional SP Suryakant Sharma.The accused face charges of dacoity, criminal conspiracy, and illegal arms possession. Raids continue in Jharkhand and neighbouring states.