‘Mastermind of ATM shutter tampering fraud in Bhopal is a computer engg student’

Bhopal: A final-year engineering student has been identified as the alleged mastermind a day after Shahpura police busted a six-member Bihar-based gang for allegedly tampering with ATMs of a nationalised bank across Bhopal and stealing cash using the “shutter tampering” technique.Police said the student, Vipul alias Sonu is a native of Chhapra in Saran district of Bihar, and was pursuing Computer Science Engineering at a private college. Along with his batchmate Prince Gupta, also from Chhapra, he allegedly masterminded the ATM fraud racket, cops said.According to Shahpura SHO Santosh Markam, the duo had called four of their friends from their hometown to Bhopal to execute the crimes, specifically targeting ATMs of a particular nationalised bank.Investigations revealed that Vipul had undergone training in ATM shutter tampering from an employee of a private bank in Bihar. He also managed to procure a master key that enabled the gang to open ATM cash dispensing units before tampering with the shutter mechanism, cops added.Using this technique, the accused allegedly prevented cash from being dispensed through the outlet after a customer completed a withdrawal transaction.

Once customers left believing the transaction had failed, the gang would reopen the machine using the master key and steal the cash trapped inside.Police said the gang targeted around two dozen ATMs in Shahpura, Kolar and Ashoka Garden areas. CCTV footage has so far confirmed their involvement in at least five ATM thefts in Shahpura, while the remaining incidents are being verified.Preliminary investigation suggests the gang stole around Rs 5 lakh, though the amount is likely to increase as police verify transaction records obtained from the bank.Police have seized Rs 50,000 in cash and the car used in the crimes. The bank accounts of all six accused have also been frozen as part of the investigation.