Nagpur man throws chilli powder into SBI staff's eyes, escapes with Rs 4 lakh

A daylight robbery at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Maharashtra took a dramatic turn when a man threw chilli powder into the eyes of bank employees before fleeing with around Rs 4 lakh in cash.

The incident took place at an SBI branch in Nagpur, Maharashtra, where routine banking operations were underway when the accused entered the premises posing as a customer.

According to the police, the man approached the cash counter before suddenly throwing chilli powder, which he had brought with him, into the eyes of the employees.

As the staff struggled to deal with the burning sensation and confusion inside the bank, the accused allegedly grabbed cash worth around Rs 4 lakh and fled the premises.

The entire robbery was captured on the bank’s CCTV cameras. The footage showed the accused carrying out the attack before making his escape, giving investigators crucial visual evidence to work with.

Police launched an immediate search based on the CCTV footage and managed to apprehend the suspect within around half an hour of the robbery. The stolen cash was also recovered from his possession.

The accused was identified as 28-year-old Suraj Bhojraj Borkar, an unemployed resident of rural Nagpur. The police inspector of Sakkardara Police Station said the accused was being questioned as investigators tried to establish the motive behind the robbery.

Police were also investigating whether Borkar acted alone or had help from anyone else in planning or carrying out the crime.

The robbery, which unfolded within minutes inside the bank, was captured in its entirety on CCTV, from the sudden attack on the employees to the accused fleeing with the cash. The swift police response, meanwhile, brought the chase to an end within half an hour.