In a major breakthrough, Crime Branch and Khitoula Police have arrested an interstate dacoit wanted in multiple bank robbery cases across four states. The accused, Sunil Paswan, the fifth and final key suspect in the high-profile ESAF Small Finance Bank robbery at Khitoula, was arrested from Gaya district in Bihar along with a receiver of stolen gold, Chanchal Paswan. The arrested has been identified as Sunil Naresh Paswan (38), a resident of Banahi village, Amas Police Station, Gaya district, Bihar and Chanchal Nanku Paswan (38), a resident of Habibpur village, Gurua Police Station, Gaya district, Bihar. Police recovered 750 grams of stolen gold jewellery, valued at Rs 1.25 crore, during the operation. The robbery took place on August 11, 2025, when five armed men stormed the ESAF Small Finance Bank under Khitoula Police Station limits in Jabalpur district. The gang looted 14.8 kg of gold jewellery pledged with the bank and around Rs 5 lakh cash before fleeing. Superintendent of Police, Sampat Upadhyay while addressing a press conference on Friday, informed that following continuous efforts, a special investigation team comprising Crime Branch, District Police and Cyber Cell officers tracked the absconding accused through technical surveillance, electronic evidence and local intelligence.

 

A Crime Branch team reached Gaya district in Bihar and received intelligence that Sunil Paswan was living in a rented house in Tilaiya village. Acting on the information, the Jabalpur Police coordinated with the Bihar STF raided the identified spot. Sunil Paswan was arrested from the rented house and during interrogation he confessed his role in the Khitoula bank robbery. He disclosed that he had received 1.5 kg of gold jewellery as his share of the loot. According to police, Sunil admitted selling 750 grams of the stolen gold to his acquaintance Chanchal Paswan for Rs 45 lakh. Chanchal was subsequently detained and revealed that he had kept the gold with a jeweller named Manoj Soni for safekeeping. Based on his information, police recovered the 750 grams of gold jewellery. Sunil further told investigators that he had sold the remaining 750 grams of gold to two different jewellers. Police are continuing efforts to recover the remaining stolen property. SP Upadhyay added that Sunil Paswan is a habitual interstate dacoit with nine serious criminal cases, including robbery and dacoity, registered against him in different states. He was wanted in bank robbery cases in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, making his arrest a significant achievement for the Jabalpur Police.