Baripada, Jan. 9: Rs 21 lakh missing from a State Bank of India ATM in Mayurbhanj has confused both bank officials and police.

The branch manager lodged a complaint with the police after the missing cash came to the notice of the bank authorities yesterday.

Although the police and the bank’s ATM experts have begun investigation, no breakthrough has been made so far.

The ATM counter is installed on the ground floor of a building while the bank branch functions from the first floor of the same complex at Bahalada bus stand.

The close circuit television camera installed in the ATM could not provide any clue because it was covered with a cloth and no picture was recorded. Neither was the counter damaged, nor was there any sign of tampering with the ATM. The police did not rule out the possibility of the involvement of bank insiders.

Sub-divisional police officer Santosh Das said: “No evidence of tampering was found either in the counter or in the machine. The close circuit television camera couldn’t record anything because it was covered with a piece of cloth by the thief.”

“The cash disappeared from the counter on Monday evening. We are interrogating the bank staff,” he said.

Branch manager Manas Ranjan Behera said Rs 24 lakh cash was loaded in the ATM on Monday afternoon. After withdrawals, the balance should be around Rs 21.39 lakh.

On Tuesday, the bank was closed due to a strike call by the state Congress. But the ATM counter was open.