Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Aug 24: In a major breakthrough in the June 22 Padubidri house theft case, police have arrested another accused— a seasoned criminal with a trail of cases spanning Karnataka and Kerala. The latest arrest brings the total number of apprehended suspects in the case to three.
The accused, Noushad B A (38), hailing from Bannur in Puttur taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, was taken into custody by Padubidri police on August 22 in Mangaluru. Upon interrogation, police recovered gold worth Rs 80,000 and Rs 32,000 in cash, which were believed to be part of the stolen loot.
The case pertains to a theft at the home of Ganesh Prasad Shetty, located near Kamat Petrol Pump in Padabettu, Padubidri. Burglars had reportedly broken into the house and made away with gold ornaments and cash worth Rs 1,45,000. A case was promptly registered at the Padubidri police station.
As part of early investigations, police had previously arrested Ibrahim Kalandar (42) and Riyaz (32). Authorities had seized the vehicle used in the burglary and recovered Rs 24,000 in cash from the duo. With Noushad’s arrest, police have now confiscated a total of 8 grams of gold and Rs 56,000 in cash in connection with the crime.
Police have confirmed that Noushad is a habitual offender, with a long list of criminal cases filed against him in multiple police stations. He is accused in one robbery case registered at Manjeshwar police station in Kerala, an assault case at Puttur Town police station, and another robbery case at Belthangady police station. He is also facing a case under the Arms Act at Madanayakanahalli police station in Bengaluru.
Additional theft cases are pending against him at Kundapura and Byndoor police stations in Udupi district. He is also named in a theft case at Chikkanayakanahalli police station in Tumakuru and in a theft and robbery case at Talaghattapura police station in Bengaluru.
A senior investigating officer said, “Noushad has been actively involved in criminal activities across multiple districts and states. His arrest is a crucial step in not only solving the Padubidri case but also in bringing a repeat offender to justice.”
The investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to trace any remaining suspects and recover more stolen property.
Police are also coordinating with other jurisdictions to pursue legal action in the multiple cases registered against the accused.