Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 3: In one of the most audacious residential robberies reported in Bengaluru in recent years, a Nepalese domestic help couple allegedly decamped with gold, diamond and silver jewellery worth nearly Rs 18 crore from the residence of a city-based builder at ASK Lake Garden on Kempapura Main Road, Yamaluru.
The accused have been identified as Dinesh (32) and his wife Kamala (25).
According to a complaint lodged by Shimanth S Arjun (28), a businessman, the theft occurred between 9 am and 12.30 pm on January 25, when the family was away from the house.
Arjun, son of builder M R Shivakumar, told Marathahalli police that his family has been residing in the house for the past 19 years. At the time of the incident, Shivakumar was out of town on work.
The couple had joined the household as domestic staff around 20 days prior to the incident, having been introduced through acquaintances Vikash and Maya Vishu, who were regular employees at the house. Dinesh and Kamala were working alongside cooks Siddharama and Ambika.
On January 25, at around 9 am, Arjun, along with his wife and mother, left the residence to attend a land worship ceremony at H Cross on the Hoskote–Chintamani Road. At approximately 12.38 pm, Arjun received a call from cook Ambika, who informed him that cupboard locks had been broken and valuables stolen, allegedly by Dinesh and Kamala with the assistance of others.
When the family rushed back home, they found that a locker in the ground-floor bedroom had been forced open using an iron rod, with around 10 kg of gold and diamond ornaments missing. Another locker in a first-floor bedroom was also found broken, from which about 1.5 kg of gold ornaments, nearly 5 kg of silver jewellery, and Rs 11.5 lac in cash were stolen.
Overall, gold, diamond and silver ornaments along with cash worth approximately Rs 18 crore were reported missing. The complainant alleged that the accused had closely observed the movements of family members over time before carrying out the theft.
Police have registered a case under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to theft by a clerk or servant of property in the possession of the master. Efforts are currently under way to trace and apprehend the absconding couple.
A senior police officer said the suspects had deliberately disconnected the power supply to the house in order to disable CCTV cameras before executing the crime.
The complainant further informed police that the couple had agreed to work for a monthly salary of Rs 27,000, but despite repeated requests, failed to provide identity proof, a lapse that is now being viewed with concern.