Mangaluru: CCB arrests 5 from Pune in Kerala trader’s kidnap, gold loot case

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 19, 2025: In a major breakthrough, the CCB police on August 18 arrested five individuals from Pune in connection with the sensational kidnapping and gold robbery of a Kerala-based trader in Mangaluru.

DCP (Law and Order) Mithun told the media that the accused were produced before the court and remanded to police custody. DCP (Crime and Traffic) Ravi Shankar, ACP Prathap Singh Thorat, and ACP Vijaya Kranthi were also present.

The incident occurred on August 16 when Srihari, a jewellery shop owner from Kerala, was abducted and robbed of 350 grams of gold worth around Rs 35 lakh. Srihari had arrived at Mangaluru Central railway station by train and was waiting for an auto-rickshaw near Kairali Hotel when a gang in an Innova car approached him, posing as customs officials.

When he resisted, the gang forcibly pushed him into the car. They drove him through Udupi towards Kumta–Sirsi, where they looted the gold before abandoning him at Antravalli village in Sirsi. Srihari later returned to Mangaluru and lodged a complaint at Pandeshwar police station.

Police suspected insider involvement as the gang seemed to have prior knowledge of Srihari’s movements. They had also used a vehicle with a BH registration plate, raising doubts about whether it was genuine or fake.

After a swift investigation, the CCB police traced the accused to Pune and arrested them on August 18. The accused are now in custody, and further interrogation is expected to uncover more details about the conspiracy and possible insider links.