Bengaluru police have arrested two lab technicians for allegedly stealing probes from ultrasound machines at a private hospital in Kumaraswamy Layout. The accused, Hemalatha (36) from Kengeri and Manjunath (44) from Laggere, reportedly stole the equipment before leaving their jobs and joining other hospitals.
Discovery and Investigation
The theft came to light on August 12, when a housekeeping staff member in the hospital’s radiology department reported the missing probes. Despite an internal inquiry, hospital authorities were unable to identify the culprits and lodged a police complaint.
CCTV footage and staff interviews initially provided no leads. However, shifting focus to former employees led investigators to Hemalatha, who was detained at her new workplace on Cunningham Road. She confessed to the theft and implicated Manjunath, who was later apprehended at a hospital in Konanakunte.
Recovery and Motive
Police recovered the stolen probes from Manjunath’s residence in Laggere. Investigations revealed the duo had unsuccessfully attempted to sell the probes to other hospitals, which were wary of second-hand equipment, particularly after recent busts of sex determination rackets involving ultrasound machines.
Broader Context
Over the past year, Karnataka police have uncovered at least four such rackets, underscoring the need for stricter vigilance in the medical equipment sector.
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