The accused, Moses Sounder of Tiruvannamalai, was held after CCTV footage helped investigators zero in on him. On March 5, cleaning staff at the bank found three locks missing from the shutter, and alerted the bank authorities, who found that the records were strewn, but cash and jewellery were untouched, suggesting a failed theft.

Ashok Nagar Police said that Moses, employed at a local firm, had scouted the bank and used the cutter to remove the locks on the night of March 4. A cutting machine, blades, wires and two mobile phones were recovered from Moses.