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Armed Robbers Arrested in SBI Bank Heist: A 10-Year-Old Girl and a Sniffer Dog Play Crucial Role

In December 2021, a shocking incident took place at the State Bank of India’s Dahisar (West) branch, where two armed robbers wearing masks shot and killed a contractual employee. The perpetrators managed to steal nearly Rs 2.7 lakh before fleeing the scene. However, within an impressive span of 24 hours, the police successfully traced and apprehended both culprits, thanks to the assistance of a sniffer dog and an observant 10-year-old girl.

The incident occurred on December 29, 2021, at approximately 3:27 pm. Two individuals forcefully entered the unguarded SBI bank situated on the ground floor of the Gurukul Housing Society, which is located less than a kilometre away from Dahisar railway station. This information was revealed in the first information report (FIR) filed by the bank.

The victim, identified as Sandesh Gomane, worked as a ‘Grahak Mitra’ at the bank. Sensing something amiss, Gomane stood up to confront the intruders. However, within seconds, he was fatally shot by one of the robbers, later identified as Dharmendra Subhashchandra Yadav. The assailant had concealed a pistol behind a black bag.

The two perpetrators, cousins Dharmendra (21 years old) and Vikas Gulabdhar Yadav (19 years old), hailed from Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh. After robbing approximately Rs 2.7 lakh in cash, the duo planned to leave Mumbai the following day.

Meanwhile, Gomane was immediately rushed to the nearby Shatabdi Hospital, where he was unfortunately pronounced dead. The bank cashier wasted no time and lodged an FIR at MHB police station, prompting the police to initiate a swift response. Multiple teams were deployed to analyze the footage captured by 30 surveillance cameras installed in the vicinity. The investigation revealed that the Yadav brothers had made their way to the foot overbridge connecting Dahisar West and East.

The police, assisted by locals, launched a meticulous search operation to locate the robbers. During their escape, one of the brothers inadvertently left behind a slipper at the bank premises. Leveraging the skills of Jesse, a tracker dog from their canine squad, the police successfully traced the scent to the Rawalpada slum area. Jesse eventually led the search team to a ground-plus-one structure where Dharmendra was hiding.

Simultaneously, a 10-year-old girl residing in the slum provided crucial information to the police. Based on the description of the suspects provided by law enforcement, she disclosed Dharmendra’s residence and informed them that she had witnessed him rushing home to change his appearance.

The police swiftly broke down the door, apprehending Dharmendra and subsequently leading them to Vikas, who was also taken into custody. During the arrests, the police managed to recover over Rs 2 lakh in cash, along with the pistol that was used to fatally shoot Gomane. Dharmendra, who had previously worked for a catering service, confessed to committing the crime due to his father’s outstanding loan of Rs 4.5 lakh, which he desperately sought to settle.

Further investigations revealed that the cousins had diligently prepared for the bank heist. They extensively studied YouTube videos to acquire the necessary knowledge and techniques, even procuring a pistol, masks, and gloves for the robbery. The SBI branch was chosen as their target due to its lack of a security guard and its close proximity to the railway station.

Presently, the two accused individuals have pending bail pleas before the sessions court in Dindoshi. The court is expected to hear their cases on January 1, 2024.

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