Kasaragod: In a case related to Vijaya Bank burglary that took place in 2015 at Cheruvathur in Kasaragod, five of the accused were found guilty and sentenced to seven years imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 1.25 Crore by the first division court, in its judgment on November 22.
The charges proven include several counts of destruction of evidence, hiding stolen items, creating falsified documents and many more. They all have to undergo seven years rigorous imprisonment, though the total imprisonment period is longer on various counts. Out of the Rs 1.25 Crore fine amount collected from the five accused, 75 lakhs will be handed over to Vijaya bank.

The sentences were handed over to the first five accused out of total seven, with the sixth one absconding and the seventh one acquitted for lack of evidence against him.

The convicts are S Sulaiman aged 45, from Bychanahalli near Kushalanagar, Abdul Latif aged 39 and Mubashir aged 21 from Kanganhad, M J Murali aged 45 of Rajagudi in Idukki district and Abdul Khadar alias Manaf aged 30 of Chengala Nalamile.

Seventh accused Abdul Khadar aged 45 from Yemmemadu was acquitted and the sixth accused Ashraf, aged 28 from Kushalnagar is absconding .

Burglary that sent shock waves in September 2016

A gang of burglars had entered the safe room of a Vijaya Bank branch by creating a crater in the ceiling between September 26 and 27, 2016. After breaking in, they decamped with 20.4 Kg gold worth Rs 4.75 Crore and Rs 4.95 Lakh cash. The bank staff came to know of the burglary when they resumed work on September 28.

They hid the stolen items in an unused well and a “haunted” house in a deserted place near Cherkala. The burglars had also taken a shop on rent by giving false addresses.

A special investigation team led by Superintendent of Police A Srinivas had succeeded in cracking the case within a week after burglary. Judicial proceedings had begun on June 2 and within 6 months the court pronounced the judgment. Prosecution lawyer K Prabhar had taken statements from 86 witnesses and produced the same in the court.