Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, June 23: A year after the shocking armed robbery at the residence of PWD contractor and businessman Padmanabha Kotian in Ulaibettu Kayarpadavu, four accused remain absconding, and the stolen gold ornaments and cash are yet to be recovered.
The incident took place on the night of June 21, 2024, around 8 pm, when a gang of dacoits broke into Kotian’s house. The assailants tied him up and assaulted him with a knife. They later bound his wife Shashiprabha and son Pratham and looted 40 grams of gold bangles, a diamond necklace, two gold rings, and a bag containing cash.
Under the leadership of the then police commissioner Anupam Agrawal, the investigation led to the arrest of ten individuals within 20 days—four locals and six from Kerala. Subsequently, four more suspects were apprehended. However, four others are still at large.
Police sources revealed that the robbery was orchestrated by Kotian’s own lorry driver, who colluded with three other locals and a Kerala-based gang after learning about a large sum of cash allegedly stored in the house. Of the accused, except for five from Kerala, others have been granted bail.
So far, police have only recovered the diamond necklace. The remaining gold and cash are still missing. This has sparked questions in the public domain as to why the case remains unresolved, especially when police had recently cracked the Kotekar Agricultural Bank robbery and recovered stolen jewellery.
"One year has passed, yet there’s been no significant progress in the investigation. Four accused are still absconding, and the cash and jewellery are yet to be recovered. We have submitted appeals to the home minister, district in-charge minister, and the new police commissioner," said Padmanabha Kotian, the victim.
DCP (Crime) Ravishankar K assured, “The investigation into the Ulaibettu robbery case is ongoing. A new inspector has been posted to the rural station, and the case files will be reviewed for necessary action and direction.”