Armed robbers looted ₹8 crore in cash and approximately 58 kilograms of gold from a branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district.

According to initial reports, the robbery took place on Tuesday evening when a group of masked men, reportedly armed with country-made pistols and other weapons, stormed into the bank premises. Dressed in what appeared to be military uniforms, the gang overpowered the staff, tied them up, and threatened the branch manager and employees — ensuring no one could trigger the alarm.

The robbers executed the heist in a swift and calculated manner before fleeing the scene. A getaway vehicle used in the crime was later found abandoned in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, pointing to a possible interstate operation.

A joint investigation and search operation involving the Karnataka and Maharashtra police has been launched. Security officials have reached the bank branch and begun collecting evidence. The area around the bank has since been cordoned off, and large crowds have gathered outside as news of the incident spread.