Patna: Bike-borne miscreants looted Rs 27 lakh from a CMS company’s van in the Gopalpur police station area of Patna on Wednesday. Around five unidentified criminals intercepted the vehicle at gunpoint around 3.30pm and decamped with the entire amount, police said. The van was carrying cash collected from shops and malls at the time of the incident.City superintendent of police (east) Parichay Kumar reached the spot with a police team and inspected the spot. The police have launched an investigation, including scanning nearby CCTV footage, collecting forensic evidence, and analysing technical inputs.The SP said that the three occupants of the van—a gunman, a driver and a custodian—told police that the robbers arrived on motorcycles and displayed weapons. A preliminary inspection revealed serious lapses in security: the vehicle was in poor condition, its windows were open, the door was not locked from inside, and the safe was not secured as its door was non-functional.Kumar also pointed out that the cash van did not have CCTV cameras installed, which are mandatory as per protocol. The CMS company had also failed to inform the local police station before transporting such a large amount of cash, which could have ensured additional security.“A show-cause notice is being issued to the company for these violations. Police are also probing the route taken by the cash van. The incident occurred on an isolated stretch near Marcha-Marchi, raising questions about the choice of route and whether it was a routine practice. As per statements, five armed persons on two motorcycles were involved. CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined. Further investigation is underway to identify and arrest the culprits,” the SP said.
