On Tuesday evening, three masked men dressed in military-style uniforms stormed a State Bank of India branch in Chadachan town, Karnataka, and made away with gold ornaments worth Rs 20 crore and Rs 1 crore in cash, police said.

The robbers overpowered the bank staff, tied up the manager and employees, and locked them inside the toilet. They also restrained customers by tying their hands and legs with plastic bags to prevent movement.

The gang forced the branch manager to open the cash vault and the gold locker. One of the robbers reportedly said, “Take out the cash, otherwise I will kill you.”

The robbers filled their bags with cash and customers’ gold before fleeing the branch.

Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi of Chadachan police station, along with senior officers, rushed to the scene immediately after the robbery.

Initial investigations revealed that the gang used a van with a fake number plate to escape. They drove towards Pandharpur in Maharashtra, but met with a minor accident in Solapur district, which led to an argument with locals. Despite the incident, the robbers managed to flee with the loot.

As SP Nimbargi explained: "The accused used an Ecco vehicle with a fake number plate to commit the offence. After an accident involving a two-wheeler, they then absconded from the spot with the loot."