Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Aug 8: Shailesh Shetty from Mundkur village, who was arrested on the suspicion of getting involved with various thefts in Mundkur within the rural police station limits here, happened to be a progressive farmer from the region and an honest man who was held in high esteem by locals.

Shailesh had worked very hard in about five acres of land his father got through Land Reforms Act. He emerged as an ideal farmer in the area. He took the entire responsibility of running his household. The people in the area are surprised at the fact that such a hard working man has turned thief, and are curious to know the reasons. Shailesh had dug borewell in his land and always found new ways to improve the yield of crops.

People living in his neighbourhood and police sources claim that Shetty was forced to indulge in theft in order to cover the losses he suffered in cricket betting. He was seriously into cricket betting on a large scale, and lost miserably, it is said.

Shailesh used to target the houses of his relatives and close ones for thefts. He used to win over the confidence of the families by helping them with the work of plucking of coconuts, cutting down of the trees etc. Once he gained free entry into their houses, he used to steal gold ornaments and flee, his close ones allege.

Shailesh, who was a great supporter and fan of Yakshagana and plays used to organize plays by renowned troupes during the annual festival of Mundkur temple. As such, people had high regard for him. Many therefore, find it hard to believe that he could steal gold ornaments.

Theft of gold ornaments from the house of Jaya N Shetty and Jyoti Shetty from Mundkur in 2017 and similar theft from the house of Ramesh Shetty during this year were reported and complaints had been filed. Local police circle inspector, Joy Antony, who conducted investigation under the guidance of Karkala deputy superintendent of police and district superintendent of police, succeeded in cracking the cases and arrest the accused. 210 grams of stolen ornaments were recovered from his possession.

Shailesh was produced in the court here on August 6, and the court remanded him to judicial custody. Police sub-inspector of rural station, Vasappa Naik, and others were involved with the investigation. The district police have announced prize of Rs 10,000 to the investigation team in this case. The police are also looking into the possibility of Shailesh’s involvement with several other thefts in the area including a theft at Mulladka in Mundkur.