Nagpur: Jaripatka Police have cracked the recent ATM theft case in Nagpur with the arrest of a habitual offender from Uttar Pradesh. The accused, identified as Khursheed Ahmed Nisar Ahmed (55), a resident of Nizamuddin Colony, Yashodharanagar, had broken open a State Bank of India ATM using a gas cutter and escaped with ₹8.12 lakh on September 4.

The theft came to light when ATM channel supervisor Prashant Pandey noticed the incident and alerted branch manager Asim Akhtar Khalik Ansari (43). A case was registered and an intensive investigation was launched. Police teams examined nearly 350 CCTV cameras across the city before zeroing in on the accused.

During interrogation, Khursheed admitted to executing the theft along with four accomplices. Originally from Sarai Bhimsen in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, he already has over 25 cases registered against him in Maharashtra, including several in Mumbai and Thane. Police suspect he and his aides may have targeted more ATMs, and further probe is underway. His accomplices are currently absconding.

Khursheed was produced before court and remanded to police custody till September 14.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of PI Arun Kshirsagar with the assistance of officers Ashish Morkhede, Maruti Jangilwad, Amit Satpute, Pankaj Thakur, Manish Kokarde, Atul Shirbhate, Manish Meshram, Mangesh Donadkar, Pawan Kamarkar, Vikas Pathak, Anuj Thakur, Gangadhar Dade, Sunil Vishwakarma, Rahul Chavan, Pankaj Varkad, Rakesh Singh, Pramod Salodkar, Nitesh Nagpure, Nikhil Chaudhary, Suryakant Ingle, and others.

Police confirmed that Khursheed had previously committed ATM thefts across the state using similar modus operandi. A search has been launched to trace his absconding associates.