Robbery attempt in guise of IT officials at Manur: Police arrest two from Mumbai

Team Udayavani, Aug 22, 2024, 10:40 AM IST

Police have arrested two persons from Mumbai in connection with an attempted robbery at the house of a local businessman on July 25 in Manur village.

The arrested individuals are Santosh Nayak (45) from Chikmagalur, currently residing in Mumbai, and Devaraj Sundar Mendon (46), originally from Kapu but also currently living in Mumbai. Both suspects have been placed under judicial custody.

Case Details:
On July 25 morning, around 8 individuals, impersonating police officers and IT officials, and knocked on the door of Sudhindra Poojari’s house in Manur. At that time, only Sudhindra’s wife, Kavita, was at home.

A security agency in Kundapura, monitoring the house’s CCTV, called Kavita and informed that 6-8 individuals had arrived in Swift and Innova cars, attempting to open the gate. When they failed, they scaled the compound wall, tried to force open a window, and later damaged the gate before leaving.

A complaint was filed at Kota Police Station, and three police teams were formed to track the suspects. The investigation revealed that the group had planned the robbery in disguise.

Involvement of Eight Members:

The police have not disclosed much information as the investigation is ongoing, with six suspects still at large. The group of robbers, including a sharpshooter with multiple cases against him in Mumbai under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), had traveled from Maharashtra to execute the robbery.

The gang members were careful not to use mobile phones and wore disguises to avoid detection. Each team member was unfamiliar with the others to ensure that no information could be leaked if one was caught. The police, facing a tough challenge, began investigations across Bengaluru, Maharashtra, and local areas. Initially, the team sent to Mumbai had little success, but they later confirmed the suspects’ identities and traced the Innova car used in the crime. The police team spent around 20 days in Mumbai gathering information before successfully making the arrests.

Disaster Averted:
If the residents had opened the door, a major robbery could have taken place, and given the suspects’ criminal backgrounds, there was a risk of violence. Fortunately, the presence of the security agency helped prevent a disaster and brought the case to light.

Local Involvement Suspected:
The investigation also points to the involvement of a local from the district, who reportedly informed Devaraj Mendon about the substantial cash held by Sudhindra Poojari. This information was relayed to a criminal gang in Mumbai, which then sent the eight-member team to Kota under the direction of their leader.

With two arrests already made, the police are continuing their investigation to apprehend the remaining suspects.