Nepali couple steals pistol, gold, cash worth Rs 1.8 crore when employer visited Tirupati | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: A Nepali couple, working as a security guard and a domestic help for a businessman in Bengaluru, recently fled with valuables worth Rs 1.8 crore and a licensed pistol. The incident took place at the residence of S Ramesh Babu, 55, businessman and political party functionary residing in Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar near HAL.The accused, identified as Raj and Deepa, had been working for Ramesh for three months. However, police suspect the couple may have given fake names as Ramesh didn’t collect their ID proofs while hiring them.The theft was discovered on May 28 after Ramesh and his family returned from a pilgrimage to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. The family had left on May 27, 5.30am, leaving the couple in charge of the house. Ramesh, who had installed CCTV cameras on the premises, was monitoring footage through an app on his phone but noticed the cameras went offline on May 28. He assumed it was due to a power cut.Around 11.30 am on May 28, a family friend who visited the house found the front gate and door open and the couple missing. She called Ramesh, who alerted another friend to check the house. During a video call, Ramesh saw the bedroom locks had been broken. The family returned home at 4pm and found the valuables missing.The stolen items include a licensed pistol, diamond necklace, several gold ornaments, weighing about 2kg, and Rs 10 lakh in cash. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at Rs 1.8 crore. Ramesh told the police that the stolen items included both inherited and self-earned assets.Further investigation revealed the couple had been introduced to Ramesh by a former employee named Prem, who had been working for the family for over a year and a half. Prem introduced Babu, an older man, to replace him when he went back to his native place. Babu, unable to manage the chores, recommended Raj and Deepa to Ramesh. The couple quickly gained the family’s trust, and Ramesh even left them in charge of the house multiple times without issue.Police believe Raj and Deepa conspired with three associates to commit the theft. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) Shivakumar Gunare confirmed that a case has been registered under BNS section 306 for theft by a clerk or servant of property in possession of the master. A special team has been formed to track down the culprits, and the police are continuing their investigation.