Date:10/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121060030400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Man held for theft in hospital Crime notes

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: A native of Bijapur has been arrested by Hebbagodi police on charges of committing theft at Narayana Hrudayalaya, and stolen goods worth Rs. 14 lakh have been recovered from him.

The police said that Ajim Sheik Sirajuddin (28), a resident of Honnawada village in Bijapur, had allegedly committed theft in Narayana Hrudayalaya on October 9. The accused had stolen two bags containing high-valued goods from a room that had been allotted to a Dubai-based industrialist Sunil Karunani, who had admitted his mother Veena Chander Karunani.

The police said that the accused gained entry into the room and had made away with the bags. “We have recovered Rs. 10,000, a gold chain, diamond rings worth Rs. 2 lakh, an expensive wrist watch, mobile phone and other materials,” Bangalore Rural district Superintendent of Police Mahesh said.

Incidentally, though a wrist watch worth Rs. 50 lakh was lying on the table in the room, the accused failed to estimate the value of that watch and hence did not steal it.

“The accused had removed diamond studs from the gold chain and had sold the chain in Athani. He has also sold two imported mobile phones,” another official familiar with the investigation said. Since the hospital has not installed CCTVs or any other security gadgets, we have instructed them to tighten their security system, the official said.

Liquor seized

Officials of the Excise Enforcement and Lottery Prohibition Wing have seized duplicate and spurious liquor worth Rs. 3.91 lakh from various places across the state since December 6.

S.K. Venugopal, Inspector-General of Police (Excise Enforcement) in a release said that raids was conducted at Belgaum, Koppal, Tumkur, Gadag and in Bangalore districts in which 8 persons were arrested.

Suitcase stolen

A suitcase containing Rs. 1.5 lakh was stolen from a Hassan-bound KSRTC bus on Monday night.

The Upparpet police said that the suitcase belonged to Revathi Bali (60), a resident of Indira Nagar, boarded the bus around 11 p.m. at the Kempe Gowda Bus Stand and had kept the suitcase next to her seat. An unidentified miscreant stole the suitcase.