The theft occurred when Ashwini was attending a sports meet held to mark the World Disability Day at the Jayanagar stadium in the morning.
Ashwini, who heads the Karumbaiah Academy for Learning and Sports, Gonikoppal, was on the dais at the event. Sources said Ashwini later went to hoist the flag, leaving her handbag behind on the chair.
"Within a matter of minutes, a well-dressed man got on to the dais and disappeared with the former national champion's purse, which was in the handbag and had her debit cards. She had left a chit with several numbers in the purse. The culprit cracked Ashwini's passwords in no time," sources close to Ashwini informed.
Within half an hour, the thief swipedthe cards in 20 ATMs in Jayanagar IV Block, withdrawing Rs 2.7 lakh, the sources added.
As the thief withdrew cash using Ashwini Nachappa's debit cards, she got alerts on her phone; but it was such a quick operation that nothing could be done, sources close to the former athlete said.
Her husband, Datha Karumbaiah, told TOI that the culprits withdrew Rs. 2.7 lakh using Ashwini's debit cards belonging to two banks. The culprits swiped the cards at 20 ATMs of various banks in Jayanagar and surrounding areas. They withdrew Rs 10,000 each time with separate cards, Datha said.
"Normally, Ashwini uses her chauffeur-driven car to go around, and leaves her handbag in the car in the driver's safe custody. But today she herself drove to the venue of the function," Datha added.
Soon after the complaint was lodged, police contacted the banks to retrieve CCTV footage from the ATMs. "We are confident of nabbing the culprits with the help of CCTV footage," a police officer said.
Late in the night, police said they were yet to obtain the CCTV footage. The withdrawals happened between 9.30am and 10am.
Ashwini first complained to Jayanagar police. "The jurisdiction of the stadium is the Tilaknagar police station. We are transferring the case to that station," the officer added.
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