Bengaluru: Former business tycoon, national-level bike rider arrested for serial chain thefts

Team Udayavani, Nov 6, 2024, 11:58 AM IST

A former millionaire and owner of 70 trucks, has been arrested in Bengaluru for his involvement in serial chain-snatching cases.

The accused Viswanath (40) from Hubballi resorted to chain-snatching as a means of income after he suffered financial loss due to a lavish lifestyle and an obsession with gambling and women.

Police seized gold jewelry worth Rs 24 lakh from his possession. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand said that Viswanath has over 150 cases registered against him across Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, and has been involved in theft for the past 8-10 years.

On August 19, Viswanath targeted the residence of a Rajshekhar in Banashankari, Bengaluru. He posed as an acquaintance, inquiring about Rajshekhar’s whereabouts to his wife. The lady informed him that he was in Mysuru and Vishwanath asked her to write down the address. When the woman went inside to get the house, he quickly snatched a 40-gram gold chain and fled.

The police registered the case and later traced him to Hyderabad, where he was arrested on October 11 by the Chaitanyapuri police. During interrogation, he confessed to multiple thefts, and the police recovered stolen jewelry from various jewelry stores where he had sold the items.

Police also discovered that Viswanath had stashed some stolen gold, 80 grams in total, at a friend’s house in Hosur Road, without the latter’s knowledge. The friend was reportedly shocked upon learning the truth.

Shot in leg during arrest in 2018

With over 150 cases against him, Viswanath had previously been shot in the leg by Jnanabharathi police in 2018 during an arrest. He secured bail but allegedly resumed criminal activities soon after his release.

From Millionaire to Chain Snatcher Due to a Lavish Lifestyle

Once a wealthy businessman in the trucking and mining industry in Koliwad, Hubballi, Viswanath reportedly lost his fortune due to his lifestyle. He then resorted to chain-snatching and distanced himself from his family. Police say he turned chain-snatching into his main source of livelihood to support his lifestyle.

A National-Level Bike Rider

Investigations also revealed an unusual detail: Viswanath had once been a national-level bike racer, participating in numerous competitions. This experience helped him execute his crimes, as he carefully studied entry and exit routes and traffic conditions before each theft. He would escape at high speed on his bike, making it difficult for anyone to follow him.

Offering Prayers for Forgiveness

After incurring losses in the trucking business, Viswanath purchased second-hand bikes under false names for his thefts. He would often approach women at gates, in parks, or on secluded roads, asking for directions or other details before snatching their jewelry and fleeing.

He reportedly sold the stolen jewelry through known contacts at jewelry stores, spending the proceeds on gambling and extravagant lifestyle choices in places like Goa. To avoid “bad karma” from his actions, Viswanath allegedly donated offerings at temples after each crime, according to police.