Bantwal: Kerala man held for stealing Rs 1 lakh from passenger’s pocket

Mangalore Today News Network

Bantwal, Sep 22, 2025: Bantwal Town police have arrested a man from Kerala for allegedly stealing Rs 1 lakh in cash from the pocket of a passenger at the BC Road bus stand.

The accused has been identified as Nazir Punnayyar from Thrissur district, Kerala.

Police said the victim, Ranganath Bellala from Kundapura, had come to BC Road on August 14 with Rs 1.60 lakh in cash after selling his car, intending to buy another used vehicle. As the deal did not go through due to document issues, he stayed overnight at a friend’s house in Kaikamba.

On August 15, while waiting at the BC Road bus stand to travel to Kottigehara, Bellala kept Rs 1.60 lakh in his trouser pocket — three bundles of Rs 50,000 each and one bundle of Rs 10,000. After boarding the bus, he realised that Rs 1 lakh — two bundles of Rs 50,000 — was missing.

He immediately filed a complaint at Bantwal Town police station. Acting quickly, a team led by Inspector Anantha Padmanabha traced the accused and arrested him in Mangaluru.

Nazir was later produced before the court.