Seven get jail terms for Rs 1.95 cr ATM van heist

A court here on Tuesday sentenced seven persons to seven years' imprisonment for looting Rs 1.95 crore from a van carrying cash for ATMs of HDFC Bank in 2015.

Among those convicted was an employee of the security firm to which the task of loading ATMs was given.

Additional Sessions Judge R M Sadrani found the accused guilty under IPC sections 395 (dacoity) and 328 (causing harm by means of poison).

The incident took place on January 16, 2015, when the van carrying cash left from Kamla Mills Compound in central Mumbai to load ATMs in suburban Mira Road.

Inside were two guards and Dharmesh Pedamkar, a junior custodian.

Pedamkar told police that Sadrealam Khan, one of the guards, asked the driver to pull over near a shop along the Western Express Highway where he said he had to return some money to a friend.

When Sadrealam returned, he brought tea for others.

After drinking it, Pedamkar and others passed out as it had been laced with a sedative.

Sadrealam's accomplices then arrived in a white car and took away the cash.

The prosecution examined 37 witnesses to prove its case.

Apart from Sadrealam Khan, Tariq Khan, Balasaheb Muneshwar, Mohmmed Shafi Khikar, Khurshid Shaikh, Mukhtar Shaikh alias Bablu and Manzoor Shaikh were convicted.