Udupi: Udupi Town police have arrested two men for allegedly robbing a 74-year-old woman of her gold chain worth around ₹4 lakh after entering her house on the pretext of collecting information for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police have recovered property valued at ₹5.53 lakh in connection with the case.
The incident reportedly took place on October 7, 2026, when the two men visited the house of Shantha Karanth, who was living alone. According to the complaint filed by her son, Srinivas Karanth, the accused claimed that they had come to collect information related to the SIR exercise.
The case came to light after the men allegedly followed the elderly woman inside her house and forcibly snatched her gold chain. Following an investigation, police arrested the two suspects at Mannapalla in Manipal on October 10.
Accused Allegedly Used SIR Survey as a Pretext
According to the complaint, Srinivas Karanth, 49, a resident of Nittoor in Puttur village, reported that his 74-year-old mother, Shantha Karanth, was living alone.
At around 3.47 pm on October 7, two unidentified men allegedly arrived at her house and said they had come to collect information regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
When Shantha told them that she would consult her son before signing the documents they had brought, she went inside the house. The two men allegedly followed her indoors, pushed her to the ground and forcibly removed a gold chain from her neck before fleeing.
The chain, which weighed approximately 30 grams and contained garnet beads, was valued at around ₹4 lakh.
Police Launch Investigation and Arrest Two Suspects
Following the incident, a case was registered at Udupi Town police station. Acting on the directions of senior officers, a police team led by Udupi Town police inspector Mahesh Prasad began investigating the case from various angles.
On October 10, police received information from local informants that helped them identify and trace the suspects. The two men were subsequently arrested at Mannapalla in Manipal.
The accused were identified as Vadiraaj Ganiga, 44, a resident of Nittoor in Puttur village, Udupi taluk, and Sachin, 30, a resident of Beedubadi in Padubidri village, Kaup taluk.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime and reportedly told investigators that they had pledged the stolen gold chain at the Industrial Credit Co-operative Society in Manipal.
Gold Chain, Electric Scooter and Mobile Phones Seized
As part of the investigation, police seized a gold chain weighing 34 grams and valued at approximately ₹4.5 lakh. They also recovered an Ola electric scooter allegedly used in the commission of the crime, valued at ₹90,000, and two mobile phones worth around ₹13,000.
The total value of the seized property was estimated at ₹5.53 lakh.
The recovery forms a key part of the investigation into the alleged robbery. Police have not reported any further details about whether additional property or other individuals are connected to the case.
The accused were produced before a court on October 10 and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Police Cite Debt as Possible Motive
According to police, the first accused was a neighbour of the complainant and had borrowed considerable sums of money from Shantha and other people. The second accused had also reportedly accumulated debts.
Investigators stated that the duo allegedly committed the robbery to repay their debts and maintain a luxurious lifestyle. These details were reported as part of the police account of the case.
The investigation was carried out under the direction of Udupi district Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, IPS, with guidance from Additional Superintendent of Police Sudhakar Naik and Udupi Sub-Division Deputy Superintendent of Police Belliyappa.
Police Personnel Assist in the Operation
Udupi Town police sub-inspectors Bharatesh Kankanawadi and Ratnakar K, along with police personnel Prasanna C, Jeevan Kumar, Abdul Basheer and Anand S, assisted in the operation.
Personnel from Manipal police station, including Mallayya Hiremath and Hemanth, also supported the investigation. Netravathi and Surendra provided additional investigative assistance.
The arrests and recovery of property mark a development in the case, which involved the alleged use of an electoral-roll revision exercise as a pretext to gain entry into the elderly woman’s home. The accused remain in judicial custody as the legal process continues.