India, Sept. 12 -- An unemployed graduate armed with chilli powder staged a dramatic bank heist in Nagpur, only to find his escape cut short 30 minutes later.

As bank officers were returning to the Sakkardara branch of State Bank of India (SBI) in South Nagpur on Thursday evening after collecting cash from an ATM, a man dressed in a kurta with his face masked in a white cloth blended in with regular clients. Sneaking up from behind as the staff approached the cash counter, he suddenly hurled a handful of chili powder straight into the employees' eyes.

As blinded staff reeled in pain, the intruder scooped up Rs.4.53 lakh in cash and bolted into the street. Shaken bank staff sprinted after the fleeing robber. Alert beat marshals on patrol...