Gang robs bank agent of ₹1.50 crore collected from Tasmac outlets in Kancheepuram

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when a small group of unidentified individuals forced the bank agent to stop his car, which was carrying the cash collected from the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) outlets. The thieves overpowered the driver, seized the vehicle, and fled the scene with the money, which is used to settle the state’s liquor excise duties and to replenish the cash reserves of the outlets. Local police arrived after the alarm was raised, but the perpetrators had already vanished, leaving the agent unharmed but shaken.

Tasmac, the state‑run agency that controls the wholesale and retail distribution of alcohol, routinely collects large sums of cash from its network of licensed shops. The cash is typically handed over to bank agents who transport it to designated bank branches for deposit. Security protocols for such transfers have been a subject of debate, as the high value of the cash makes it an attractive target for organized crime. Following the robbery, the bank’s regional manager confirmed that the vehicle was equipped with a standard security lock but not an armed escort, a practice that is common in many parts of the state due to cost considerations.

The theft has prompted the Kancheepuram police to launch a special investigation, with officials reviewing CCTV footage from nearby shops and interviewing witnesses. Authorities have also warned other bank agents to exercise heightened caution and have suggested that the state consider alternative methods such as electronic transfers to reduce the need for physical cash movement. For residents of Tamil Nadu, the incident highlights the vulnerability of cash‑based transactions and may accelerate discussions about modernizing financial operations within state‑run enterprises.