Bantwal: In a quick breakthrough, the Bantwal Rural Police have cracked a theft case involving 45 sacks of dried areca nuts, collectively worth around ₹2.2 lakh, stolen over a span of nearly three weeks from a house in Poonjoor, Mani-Nalkuru village.

The theft occurred between July 3 and 22, and a complaint was officially registered on July 23 at the Bantwal Rural Police Station under Crime No. 112/2025 in accordance with Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

A special investigation team led by Circle Inspector Shivakumar B, with PSI Manjunath T, ASI Jinnappa Gowda, and constables Rajesh, Nazeer, Lokesh, Prashanth, Maruti, and Hanumantha, launched a detailed probe into the case.

On July 28, the team apprehended Satish (29), a resident of Paicharu village in Sullia, who confessed to the crime during interrogation.

The police recovered:

  • 15 sacks of areca nuts worth ₹74,000

  • ₹70,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds from selling part of the stolen goods

  • An APE goods vehicle, valued at ₹80,000, used in transporting the stolen items

    • The total recovery is valued at ₹2,24,000. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody by the Bantwal court.

    Police are continuing efforts to trace any possible collaborators and recover the remaining stolen property.