Mangaluru: Police have arrested an inter-state thief in connection with the theft of gold ornaments from a passenger’s bag inside a bus within the jurisdiction of Bantwal Town Police Station in Dakshina Kannada district. Authorities said they have recovered gold jewellery weighing around 174 grams, estimated to be worth nearly ₹20 lakh.
The accused has been identified as Samad Khan (37), a resident of Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh. Police said the arrest was made after an investigation into a complaint filed following the theft that took place in November.
Theft reported from bus in Bantwal
According to police officials, the incident occurred on November 19 when a passenger travelling by bus realised that gold ornaments stored in a bag had gone missing. The theft reportedly took place while the bus was within the Bantwal Town police station limits.
The complainant had kept gold jewellery inside the bag during the journey. However, upon checking the bag later, the ornaments were found missing, prompting the victim to approach the police and file a complaint.
Following the complaint, a case was registered at Bantwal Town Police Station under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with theft-related offences.
Investigation leads to inter-state suspect
After registering the case, police launched an investigation to identify the person responsible for the theft. Officers reviewed available evidence and began tracing possible suspects involved in similar crimes.
During the course of the investigation, suspicion fell on Samad Khan, who is believed to have been involved in thefts across multiple states. Police teams tracked his movements and eventually managed to apprehend him.
Officials said Khan is suspected to be part of a network of inter-state thieves who target passengers travelling in buses and crowded public transport.
Gold ornaments worth ₹20 lakh recovered
Following the arrest, police conducted further questioning and searches, which led to the recovery of approximately 174 grams of stolen gold ornaments from the accused.
The recovered jewellery has been estimated to be worth nearly ₹20 lakh. Police said the recovered items are believed to belong to the complainant and will be returned after completion of legal procedures.
Investigators are also trying to determine whether the accused was involved in other theft cases in the region or elsewhere in the country.
Police suspect wider network
Officials believe the accused may have carried out similar thefts in other districts or states, particularly targeting unsuspecting passengers travelling with valuables.
Inter-state thieves often operate by boarding buses or trains and discreetly stealing bags or valuables during crowded travel conditions. In many cases, such suspects move quickly between states to avoid detection.
Police are therefore examining Khan’s background and criminal history to determine whether he has previous cases registered against him.
Authorities are also checking if any accomplices were involved in the Bantwal bus theft incident.
Police team involved in operation
The arrest and recovery operation was carried out under the supervision of Bantwal Sub-Division Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Yash Kumar Sharma.
The investigation was led by investigation officer Ananth Padmanabha and the police inspector of Bantwal Town Police Station. The team also included Police Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar Shetty and other police personnel.
Officials said coordinated efforts by the investigating team helped track down the accused and recover the stolen jewellery.
Investigation continues
Police said further investigation is currently in progress to determine the full extent of the accused’s involvement in theft cases and to identify any additional victims or accomplices.
Authorities have also advised passengers to remain cautious while travelling and to keep valuables secure, especially in crowded public transport where such thefts are more likely to occur.