About Rs 1.15 cr in old currency notes looted from bank in Odisha

Dhenkanal: At least Rs 1.15 crore worth of cash in now defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was stolen from the Odisha Gramya Bank’s branch here, police said today.

The incident came to light today when the bank officials opened the bank after the two-day weekend holiday, Abhinav Dalua, inspector in-charge of Dhenkanal Town Police Station said.

There were about Rs 8 crore in old currency notes in the bank and Rs 1.15 crore were found missing from one iron box, he said.

The money was in banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, Dhenkanal SP Basant Kumar Panigrahi said, adding “We are examining the CCTV footages”.

“We strongly suspect the involvement of some insiders behind the crime. We are surprised to find nearly Rs 7 crore cash intact in the strong room. All the cash were stashed in three huge boxes in the chest,” he said.

The branch is located at a stone’s throw from the Dhenkanal Town police station.

Police have formed special teams to apprehend the culprits involved in the robbery.

PTI