Money Heist- a popular crime drama Netflix series is a fan favourite and it has gone on to inspire several remakes in various languages, and also inspiring a few to emulate the reel works in real!

In October 2024, the quiet town of Davangere in Karnataka woke up to news that seemed straight out of a thriller. Seventeen kilograms of gold pledged by customers at the State Bank of India had vanished overnight.

No broken safes. No obvious entry. Just a clean, calculated, and chilling robbery.

The man behind it? A local baker named Syed Mujahid — a man whose simmering frustration with the bank turned into one of the most daring heists India had seen in recent memory.

The Mastermind: A Baker With A Plan

Syed Mujahid, known locally for his humble bakery and soft-spoken nature, had no prior criminal record. But beneath the surface brewed a quiet resentment.

According to police reports, Mujahid had approached the SBI branch for a business loan multiple times and had been rejected each time.

The rejection, combined with rising financial pressures and the pandemic's aftermath, pushed him toward a path he would later claim he never imagined taking.

Inspired by Netflix’s Money Heist, Mujahid spent months studying burglary techniques and lock-breaking methods online.

He then handpicked five other accomplices, all first-time offenders like him — mechanics, daily wage earners, and shop helpers — people desperate enough to take a risk.

The Robbery: A Scene From A Movie

On the night of October 28, 2024, the gang entered the bank from the rear, using gas cutters and silence. CCTV footage showed the lights flickering for a few seconds — the only evidence of the power being tampered with.

Their main target: gold ornaments pledged by over 300 customers for loans. They carefully avoided the cash counters and CCTV servers, suggesting a well-researched plan. Over Rs 16 crore worth of gold — 17.7 kg — was stolen.

To avoid police sniffer dogs, the group sprinkled chili powder across the crime scene — a trick borrowed from old-school robbers and folklore, but still effective enough to confuse scent trails.

By the time the bank opened the next morning, the vaults were empty, and the police were baffled.

The Investigation: A Game Of Patience

Police officers from Davangere and Bengaluru, with support from cyber forensics teams, combed through CCTV footage, internet cafés, and mobile tower dumps. The gang had gone underground. For months, there were no solid leads.

But like all great plans, theirs had a flaw — ego and comfort. Mujahid had used part of his share to renovate his bakery and buy gold jewellery for his wife. A sudden lifestyle upgrade alerted investigators.

By March 2025, the police tracked calls and bank transfers leading to Madurai, Tamil Nadu. A final breakthrough came when informants revealed that the stolen gold had been hidden in a remote village well.

On April 15, 2025, police recovered almost the entire amount of gold and arrested all six gang members.

Mujahid confessed during interrogation that his only inspiration had been Money Heist — he had even nicknamed his team members after fictional cities.

Why This Story Still Matters

This was not just a story about a robbery. It was about how financial inequality, systemic neglect, and pop culture can influence real life. Mujahid’s tale is a symbol of how desperate times can twist ordinary people into criminals.

At a time when social media is flooded with glorified crime content and economic disparity is growing, this heist holds a mirror to society. It challenges how we view ambition, failure, and justice.

The Desi Money Heist shocked the nation, not just because of the scale of the theft but because of who committed it — and why.

It remains a cautionary tale and a cinematic real-life crime that continues to intrigue readers, watchers, and law enforcers alike.

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