Mangaluru gold robbery: Three arrested for aiding 14-member gang; hunt on for 13 accused

Mangaluru gold robbery: Three arrested for aiding 14-member gang; hunt on for 13 accused

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jul 4, 2026: Police have identified 14 accused in the highway robbery case in which a jewellery businessman was assaulted and robbed of gold ornaments at Baikampady on National Highway 66. Three persons who allegedly assisted the gang have been arrested by Panambur police.

The arrested accused have been identified as Nimil R.K. (37) of Thalassery, Kerala, and Irshad (40) and Mustafa (49), both residents of Madikeri.

The robbery took place in the early hours of July 29 at around 2.45 a.m. when Vikas Dhanavade (44), a jewellery businessman from Payyanur, Kerala, was travelling with his family from Maharashtra in a Maruti Swift Dzire car along National Highway 66. Near Baikampady Junction in Surathkal, the family’s vehicle was intercepted by a gang of 6–7 masked men travelling in two Toyota Innova cars and a Swift car. The assailants allegedly threatened them with swords, assaulted Dhanavade, snatched a suitcase containing 180 grams of gold ornaments, and fled with the victim’s car.

The robbers also stole two mobile phones and the car. The total value of the stolen property, including approximately 180 grams of gold jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh, two mobile phones worth around Rs 10,000, and the car valued at about Rs 3 lakh, is estimated at Rs 23.10 lakh. A case was registered at Panambur Police Station under Crime No. 84/2026 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the KPDLP Act.

During the investigation, police recovered the victim’s Maruti Swift Dzire on July 30 at around 11.30 a.m. The vehicle was found abandoned without number plates in a hilly area at Pachchinadka in Bantwal taluk.

As part of the investigation, Panambur Police Inspector Saleem Abbas and his team apprehended Nimil R.K. near ASTER MIMS Hospital in Chala, Kannur district, Kerala. Panambur PSI Gyanashekhar and his team arrested Irshad at Ponnampet for allegedly providing shelter and assistance to the accused. Another accused, Mustafa, who allegedly arranged a vehicle and provided shelter to the main accused, was arrested near the bus stand adjacent to the Lions Club at Murnad Junction in Madikeri taluk.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that 14 persons directly participated in the robbery, while two others allegedly provided logistical support and shelter, taking the total number of accused to 16. Of them, three have been arrested and were produced before the court on July 3, which remanded them to 10 days of police custody for further interrogation.

Police are continuing the search for the remaining 13 accused, including the key conspirators. Of the four vehicles used in the crime, one Toyota Innova Crysta has been seized, while three other vehicles are yet to be traced. The stolen 180 grams of gold ornaments and two mobile phones have also not yet been recovered.

Preliminary investigation indicates that all the accused are residents of Kodagu district in Karnataka and Kerala.

The investigation is being carried out under the supervision of North Division ACP Srikanth K. and Mangaluru City CCB ACP Manoj Kumar Naik. The detection team includes Panambur Police Inspector Saleem Abbas, PSIs Sreekala K.T. and Gyanashekhar, along with officers and personnel from the Kavoor, Mulki, Kankanady and Urwa police stations, as well as the City Crime Branch.