Palakkad (Kerala) | A brazen heist unfolded when a gang blocked a highway at Puthussery near here, waylaid a car going towards Malappuram and attacked the passengers before decamping with Rs 4.5 crore cash in their possession, police said.

The dramatic scenes happened at the crack of dawn on Saturday when a gang strategically parked a large truck on the national highway and blocked the car.

The incident, which played out like heist scenes in movies, came to light after the three passengers who were attacked approached the Kasaba police station in Palakkad district on Saturday night.

According to their complaint, a gang comprising around 15-members, blocked the national highway with a truck and stopped the car around 3 am on Saturday.

"Following this, a gang came in multiple cars, attacked the passengers and took them in their vehicle and threw them out near Thrissur. The passengers were assaulted and they claim that around Rs 4.5 crore was looted from them," police told PTI.

Police said they have checked the CCTV footage along the toll booths but the attackers have used fake registration number plates on their cars.

The car was travelling from Bengaluru to Malappuram, police said, adding that the source of money was also under probe.