Udupi: Udupi Town Police have arrested two alleged members of the Bedia gang from Uttar Pradesh in connection with a house burglary reported in Ambalpady and recovered property worth approximately Rs 4.50 lakh, police said. The arrests followed an investigation into a July burglary in which Rs 6 lakh in cash and watches were reportedly stolen from a house.
The accused have been identified as Mohammed Zafar, 22, a resident of Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh, and Kadir, 32, also from Sambhal district. Police said both are allegedly associated with the Bedia gang, which they said originates from the Baniyather-Chandausi-Akrauli area of Uttar Pradesh.
House burgled while owner was away
The case came to light after 70-year-old A.S. Ramamurthy, a resident of Ambalpady, filed a complaint with Udupi Town Police on July 9, 2026.
According to the complaint, Ramamurthy had locked his house near Sahara Apartments on Kunjugudde Road at around 1.30 pm on July 1 before leaving for Mangaluru to stay at his daughter’s residence.
When he returned at around 10.30 am on July 9, he reportedly found the front door broken open. Clothes had been pulled out and the house had been searched.
Police said Rs 6 lakh in cash kept inside a bag was missing. Three watches belonging to Ramamurthy’s son, valued at around Rs 10,000, were also reported stolen.
Following the complaint, Udupi Town Police registered a case and began investigating the burglary.
First accused arrested near Indrali
Acting on information received during the investigation, police arrested Mohammed Zafar near Indrali Railway Station in Udupi on September 2.
During questioning, Zafar allegedly told investigators that he and his associate Kadir had broken open the lock of the Ambalpady house and stolen the cash and watches. Police said the stolen cash was allegedly divided equally between the two.
Police recovered Rs 1.50 lakh in cash and a mobile phone valued at around Rs 8,000 from Zafar.
The investigation subsequently took the police team to Uttar Pradesh after obtaining police custody. During the operation, another Rs 1.06 lakh in cash was reportedly recovered, according to police.
Second accused held in Moodbidri
The investigation continued after Zafar’s arrest, leading police to the second accused.
Kadir, 32, was arrested in Moodbidri on September 25, police said. During the operation, officers reportedly recovered Rs 1.65 lakh in cash, two silver coins valued at around Rs 6,000 and five watches of different brands valued at approximately Rs 15,000.
Police also recovered two screwdrivers allegedly used in the burglary and a brown-coloured bag. The value of the recovered items and cash was put at approximately Rs 4.50 lakh.
The recovery includes cash and other articles linked by investigators to the burglary, although the police investigation into the full circumstances of the case is continuing.
Police link accused to Bedia gang
According to Udupi Police, both accused are members of the Bedia gang and originally hail from the Baniyather-Chandausi-Akrauli region of Uttar Pradesh.
Police also said the two men have been linked to other criminal cases in different locations.
Mohammed Zafar reportedly has a house burglary case registered against him at Nainital police station in Uttarakhand.
Kadir, meanwhile, allegedly has multiple cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh. Police said cases at Baniyather police station include an illegal arms case and two house burglary cases. At Civil Lines police station in Moradabad, he allegedly faces another illegal arms case and two house burglary cases.
Police said Kadir is involved in a total of six cases. These details are based on police records cited in reports, and the allegations in those cases remain subject to legal proceedings.
Police team conducts interstate investigation
The operation was carried out under the direction of Udupi district Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, IPS, with guidance from Additional SP Sudhakar Naik and Udupi Sub-Division DySP Belliyappa.
The investigation was led by Udupi Town Police Inspector Mahesh Prasad.
PSI Ratnakar K, ASIs Harish and Prasanna C, and police personnel Jeevan Kumar, Anand Ganiga, Anand, Obalesh and Anandayya assisted in the investigation and arrests. Personnel from Manipal Police, including Mallaiah Hiremath, also supported the operation.
The interstate nature of the investigation required police to travel to Uttar Pradesh to trace and recover part of the alleged stolen cash. The recovery from the accused in Udupi and Uttar Pradesh formed part of the overall investigation into the Ambalpady burglary.
Investigation continues
The arrests mark a significant development in the Ambalpady house burglary investigation, with police recovering cash, watches and other articles valued at around Rs 4.50 lakh.
Police are continuing to investigate the alleged involvement of the two accused and whether they may have links to other burglary cases in Udupi and neighbouring areas.
The case also highlights the challenges involved in investigating interstate burglary networks, particularly when suspects are allegedly connected to groups operating across different States.
The allegations against the arrested individuals will be subject to the legal process, and their arrest or the recovery of property does not by itself establish guilt. Police are expected to establish the remaining facts and evidence as the investigation progresses.