Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sept 2: In a shocking case of insider theft at Mangaluru International Airport, four baggage handling staff employed by Air India SATS have been arrested for allegedly stealing gold jewellery from a woman passenger’s check-in luggage.
A fifth person, accused of purchasing the stolen items, has also been taken into custody. Police have recovered a substantial portion of the missing gold and are continuing their investigation.
The incident came to light on the morning of August 30, when a female passenger landed in Mangaluru from Bengaluru on an Air India Express flight. After retrieving her luggage from the conveyor belt, she discovered that 56 grams of gold jewellery, worth Rs 4.5 lac, was missing.
The distressed passenger immediately reported the theft to Bajpe police station. Based on her complaint, police registered a case under Crime No. 157/2025, invoking Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and launched a detailed investigation.
According to an official press release issued by the Commissioner of Police, Mangaluru City, police detained four suspects, all working as loaders and unloaders with Air India SATS.
The accused have been identified as Nithin, a resident of Kandavara in Mangaluru taluk; Sadananda and Rajesh, both residents of Mooduperar; and Praveen Fernandes, a resident of Bajpe.
During interrogation, all four confessed to stealing the gold while handling the passenger’s baggage. They admitted to selling the stolen ornaments to a person named Raviraj, also from Mooduperar.
Raviraj was subsequently arrested for receiving stolen property and has been booked under Section 317(2) of the BNS. Police have recovered approximately 50 grams of the stolen jewellery, estimated to be worth Rs 5 lac.
The press release further revealed that the same group was allegedly involved in a similar case earlier this year. In January 2025, they reportedly stole Rs 2 lac in cash from the luggage of a passenger named Manohar Shetty. That case, registered under Crime No. 27/2025 at Bajpe police station, was already under investigation when this fresh theft was uncovered. All five accused have reportedly worked with Air India SATS for nearly nine years.
They have now been produced before the court and remain in police custody as further inquiries continue.
The Commissioner noted that preliminary findings suggest the accused deliberately targeted luggage containing high-value items such as gold and cash. In many cases, they managed to open bags using weak locks or easily guessed password combinations. Authorities have now urged passengers to take greater precautions while travelling.
“We request passengers to avoid placing gold, cash, or other expensive items in their checked bags. This case is a wake-up call — not just for passengers but also for airline security,” said a senior official from Mangaluru city police.
The commissioner of police also advised passengers to secure their belongings with robust locks and avoid negligence that could make them vulnerable to theft.
The police department has promised tighter surveillance at baggage handling areas and stricter monitoring of airport ground staff.