A 66-year-old flower vendor from Bengaluru has earned praise for his determination and presence of mind after helping police identify a suspect who allegedly stole money from his pushcart near a temple in Nandini Layout.
Rajanna HG, a familiar figure outside the Anjaneya Temple in Nandini Layout’s II Block-North, has been selling flowers there for years. His business relies heavily on small cash transactions, prompting him to regularly exchange larger currency notes for coins and smaller denominations.
Trusting the safety of the temple surroundings, Rajanna developed a routine of storing his daily working cash in a cloth bag tied securely beneath his pushcart overnight.
Suspicion grows after money goes missing
Trouble began on May 25 when Rajanna noticed that the money bag felt lighter than usual. Suspecting a mistake, he carefully counted ₹10,000 in change, secured it beneath the cart and returned home.
The next morning, he discovered that ₹800 was missing. What puzzled him was that the cloth bundle appeared untouched.
After discussing the matter with fellow vendors, Rajanna began to suspect that someone familiar with his routine was secretly taking small amounts of money to avoid attracting attention.
His fears were confirmed two days later when he arrived at the cart to find the remaining ₹9,000 missing. This time, the cloth bag had been torn open.
Vendor reviews CCTV footage
Rather than immediately approaching the police, Rajanna decided to gather evidence.
Knowing that nearby shops and the temple premises were covered by surveillance cameras, he requested access to CCTV footage recorded during the previous nights.
Hours of careful viewing eventually paid off. The footage allegedly showed a local youth, identified as Charan alias Jollu, loitering around the pushcart during the early hours of the morning.
Additional footage from neighbouring establishments reportedly captured the suspect approaching the cart and later leaving the area.
Police begin investigation
Armed with the CCTV recordings, Rajanna approached the police and lodged a formal complaint.
Police officials praised the vendor’s initiative, noting that his efforts significantly aided the investigation.
“Rajanna has done most of our work by reviewing the CCTV footage and identifying the suspect,” a senior police officer said.
Police have launched a search for the accused and said efforts are underway to trace and arrest him.
The incident has highlighted how vigilance and community cooperation can play a crucial role in solving crimes.