Two years on, CB-CID cracks Salem train heist case with duo’s arrest

The arrested duo, who were identified as B Dinesh Pardi (38) and R Rohan Pardi (29) of Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh, confessed to their involvement in the sensational heist along with three others. The police, who had a few clues that a gang from Madhya Pradesh was behind the heist, formed special teams which frequented Ratlam district in the northern state as part of investigations.

Interrogations revealed that a five-member gang travelled on the roof top of the train and made a hole between Chinnasalem and Vriddhachalam stations. “Two of them entered the cabin, broke open the wooden boxes and stuffed the cash in their lungis. After the train reached Vriddhachalam, the cash wrapped lunges were passed on to other gang members who were waiting at the station,” said CB-CID sources quoting the accused. The entire gang escaped with cash in Vriddhachalam.  

“Technical and intelligence inputs helped crack the case,” C Sridhar, IG, CB-CID told DT Next. According to CB-CID sources, a team, led by DSP Krishnan, CB-CID, Salem, studied the inter-state burglary gang with police in Ujjain and Guna districts in Madhya Pradesh to zero in on the involvement of Pardi gang behind the heist just ahead of demonetisation. 

Through intelligence the CB-CID came to know that two members of the gang were on a visit to Chennai and secured them. It may be noted that the kingpin of the heist Mohar Singh and few others involved in the burglary have already been arrested by Madhya Pradesh police in connection with other cases. CB-CID is expected to take custody of other gang members behind bars in Guna Central Prison.