Mangaluru: Mangaluru South police have arrested three persons in connection with the theft of copper cables worth an estimated ₹70 lakh from the premises of a Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) office at Pandeshwara in the city.
The arrested have been identified as Manjunatha D (29) from Ekkuru, K K Chami (59) from Mattannur in Kannur district of Kerala, and Tanveer Pasha (50) from Hassan. The arrests were made following an investigation into a complaint lodged earlier this month.
Complaint filed by BSNL official
Mangaluru South police said that a complaint was filed on February 16 by Vinodha Shekhar Naik, Junior Telecom Officer at the BSNL office in Pandeshwara. In the complaint, he stated that copper cables stored within the office premises were suspected to have been stolen between December 1, 2025 and February 14, 2026.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Section 303(2) (theft) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police launched an investigation to trace those involved in the alleged theft and recover the stolen property.
Theft worth ₹70 lakh
According to police sources, the total value of the stolen copper cables is estimated at around ₹70 lakh. The cables were reportedly removed from the BSNL office premises over a period of time, making the theft difficult to detect immediately.
Investigators said the accused allegedly targeted copper cables due to their high resale value in the scrap market. Copper, being a valuable metal, often attracts organised thefts from government and industrial establishments.
Following sustained efforts, a police team succeeded in tracing and arresting the suspects on February 18.
Recovery of cables and cash
During the course of the investigation, police seized 45 kg of copper cables valued at approximately ₹2.5 lakh. In addition, officials recovered ₹10 lakh, which is believed to be part of the proceeds received by the accused from selling the stolen cables.
Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether more stolen material can be recovered and whether additional individuals were involved in the offence.
The arrested persons were produced before the jurisdictional court, and further legal proceedings are in progress.
Impact on telecom services
Officials indicated that theft of copper cables can disrupt telecom infrastructure and cause inconvenience to the public. While it is not yet clear whether services were affected in this case, police noted that such crimes can hamper communication networks and lead to financial losses for public sector undertakings.
Authorities have reiterated that strict action will be taken against those involved in theft of public property and essential infrastructure. The investigation is continuing to ascertain the full extent of the operation and recover the remaining stolen property.