Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Nov 22: Five persons accused of the sensational theft at the Chervathur branch of Vijaya Bank have been sentenced to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 25 lac on each. Out of the total Rs 1.25 crore that will be received by way of fine, Rs 75 lac will be remitted to the Bank.

The Kasargod first class magistrate pronounced the judgment on Tuesday November 22. While accused numbers one to five were found guilty, the seventh accused was acquitted. The sixth accused is absconding.

The five convicted of the crime are S Sulaiman(45), a resident of Kushalnagar, Abdul Lathif (39) and Mubashir(21) of Kanhangad, M J Murali (45) of Idukki and Abdul Khader alias Manaf (30) of Chengala. Seventh accused Abdul Khader (45), a resident of Madikeri was acquitted for lack of evidence. Sixth accused Ashraf (38) of Kushalnagar is absconding.

The theft had occurred on the intervening night between September 26 and 27 in 2015. Thieves had entered the bank by digging a hole on the ceiling of the first floor of the building. They had gained entry into the strong room of the bank and stolen gold worth Rs 4.75 crore weighing 20.40 kg and Rs 4.95 lac in cash. The incident came to light when the staff came to work on the morning of September 28.

The thieves had hidden the stolen gold in an abandoned well and in the loft of a deserted house.

A police team led by DSP A Srinivas had arrested the thieves within a week. The court hearing had started on June 2 this year, and the court has pronounced the judgment within six months. The prosecution cross questioned 86 witnesses. K Prabhakar argued in favour of the prosecution.