’D’ Group staffer held for stealing gold, cash stolen from Vidhana Soudha

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Feb 11, 2026: In a major security lapse, a handbag containing about 300 grams of gold jewellery and ₹1.5 lakh in cash was stolen from the Vidhana Soudha office of Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, triggering serious concerns over security protocols within the high-security government complex.

A senior police officer said Naveen, who had visited the minister’s office on official work, was carrying the handbag with cash and gold ornaments. He allegedly forgot the bag inside the office and left the premises. When he returned the next day to retrieve it, the handbag was found missing, following which he lodged a complaint with the Vidhana Soudha police station.

During the investigation, police examined CCTV footage from the premises and allegedly found Antony, a Group ‘D’ employee attached to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), taking the handbag. He was subsequently taken into custody.

The incident has once again raised questions about how such a large quantity of gold and cash was brought into the Vidhana Soudha without detection, highlighting potential lapses in security checks.