Big breakthrough in Salem train heist as probe leads CB-CID to Odisha, West Bengal

Thieves drilled a hole on top of the parcel compartment and decamped with Rs 5.75 crore worth of soiled notes reportedly belonging to the Reserve Bank of India. 

The CB-CID investigation team has identified the leader of an interstate gang and at least two of his associates, who had meticulously planned and executed the crime. Though the investigation team has identified the culprits behind the heist, they are yet to make any arrests. Officials had initially traced the gang leader to West Bengal and then to Odisha, but on both occasions, he managed to escape. 

“The accused are now in possession of a huge sum of cash and we may be able to trace them once they exhaust it,” a CB-CID source told DTNext and added that the crime was well-planned and the gang had detailed information regarding the transportation of cash on board the Salem-Chennai Express. 

The source, however, refused to divulge any other details regarding the culprits so as to not hamper the investigation. Officials said the gang seemed to have received assistance from some railway personnel. When contacted, Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, IG, CB-CID, said, “We are investigating the case and once we arrest the accused we would share the information with the media.” 

CB-CID sources said the gang had escaped to West Bengal immediately after the heist. It is also suspected that the gang members could have even left the country. The main accused in the case would be arrested soon, the source added.