Mumbai: A 42-year-old man who aspired to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and had tried to participate in the popular television quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati was arrested by Mumbai Police in Delhi after remaining on the run for nearly a year. The accused, identified as Satish Kumar Krishnaprasad Kesari, is alleged to have stolen a gold chain worth Rs 5 lakh from a jewellery shop in Mumbai’s Kandivali West.
Kesari, originally from Bihar and a resident of Uttam Nagar in Delhi, allegedly turned to theft after facing repeated setbacks in his professional and business ambitions and struggling with mounting debts. Police said he posed as a customer at jewellery stores, asked to inspect ornaments and then fled with them.
The theft at Padmavati Jewellers on Mathuradas Road took place on November 15 last year. The accused allegedly escaped with a gold chain weighing 43.2 grams, valued at approximately Rs 5 lakh.
After the incident, he reportedly took steps to avoid detection, including providing a fake Aadhaar card at the hostel where he was staying in Mumbai and switching off his mobile phone. Following an investigation involving CCTV footage and technical information, the Kandivali police eventually traced and arrested him in Delhi on October 28, 2026.
From UPSC preparation to an unsuccessful KBC attempt
Kesari’s background, as described during the police investigation, reflects a series of unsuccessful attempts to achieve financial and professional stability.
A computer science graduate, he moved to Delhi in search of employment and hoped to become an IAS officer. He prepared for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations while working part-time to support himself.
However, his attempts to clear the competitive examinations did not yield the desired result. He subsequently looked towards television quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati as another possible opportunity to win money.
The show, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, offers participants an opportunity to answer questions and win cash prizes. But Kesari reportedly could not progress beyond the preliminary qualifying round, known as ‘Fastest Finger First’. He never reached the programme’s famous ‘hot seat’, where contestants answer questions for larger prize amounts.
His attempt to participate in the show also remained unsuccessful, leaving him without the financial breakthrough he had hoped for.
Travel business reportedly added to his debts
After his attempts at the UPSC examinations and KBC did not work out, Kesari started a tours and travel business with his wife.
The couple reportedly took loans to purchase four to five vehicles and registered them on ride-hailing platforms such as Ola and Uber. The plan was to generate income by operating the vehicles through these services.
However, the business did not become successful and reportedly resulted in substantial financial losses. The loans taken to purchase the vehicles added to Kesari’s existing financial difficulties.
His debt burden continued to increase, according to the account of his circumstances shared in connection with the case.
Police said that, faced with mounting financial pressure, Kesari allegedly began targeting jewellery shops. His reported method was to enter a store pretending to be a genuine customer, request to see ornaments and then escape with one of the items.
The alleged theft at Padmavati Jewellers was carried out using this approach.
How the Kandivali jewellery theft took place
On November 15 last year, Kesari allegedly visited Padmavati Jewellers on Mathuradas Road in Kandivali West.
After posing as a customer, he reportedly asked the shop staff to show him jewellery. During the interaction, he allegedly managed to flee with a gold chain weighing 43.2 grams.
The ornament was valued at around Rs 5 lakh, making the incident a significant theft for the jewellery establishment.
Following the incident, the Kandivali police began investigating the case. CCTV footage from the area and the jewellery shop formed part of the investigation, helping officers examine the accused’s movements and gather information about the incident.
The police also used technical inputs to identify a mobile number that was active and believed to be linked to the accused.
Fake Aadhaar card and switched-off phone used to evade police
According to the police investigation, Kesari allegedly attempted to conceal his identity and avoid being traced after the theft.
While staying at a hostel in Mumbai, he reportedly submitted a fake Aadhaar card. This was intended to prevent the authorities from easily identifying him through the accommodation details.
He also switched off his mobile phone, making it difficult for investigators to track his movements through the number associated with him.
Despite these measures, the Kandivali police continued examining CCTV footage and other technical information. Investigators eventually identified an active mobile number linked to the accused.
The information helped the police trace Kesari to Delhi, where he was arrested on October 28, 2026. The stolen gold chain was also recovered during the operation, according to the details of the case.
His arrest came nearly a year after the alleged theft at the Kandivali jewellery shop.
Police allege involvement in another jewellery theft
During questioning, Kesari allegedly confessed to stealing the gold chain from Padmavati Jewellers. He also reportedly admitted to committing a similar theft in Mumbai’s Dindoshi area.
The alleged admission has brought another jewellery theft under the police investigation. Further details about the second incident were not immediately available.
Kesari is currently in police custody. The investigation is expected to examine the alleged thefts, the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the chain and the accused’s movements during the period he remained untraceable.
The case highlights how investigators used CCTV footage and technical information to track an accused who had allegedly taken precautions to conceal his identity. It also underlines the importance of verification procedures at accommodation facilities, particularly when identity documents are submitted by guests.
While the account of Kesari’s failed career and business attempts provides context to the reported circumstances behind the alleged crime, financial difficulties do not justify theft. The allegations against him will be dealt with through the legal process.