Manipal: Woman arrested for attempted murder of friend, gold theft

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, May 21, 2026: Police have solved the attempted murder and robbery case involving a 23-year-old woman from Ankola, identified as Yogita, who was found critically injured in a rented room near Shantinagar in Manipal. In connection with the case, police arrested the victim’s friend, who was staying in the adjacent room.

The arrested accused has been identified as Sushma Annappa Naik (31), a resident of Kheni Bavikeri village in Ankola taluk. Yogita had been staying in a rented house along with two other friends. On the night of May 12, the two roommates had gone for their night-shift jobs. When they returned to the room on Wednesday morning after completing work, they found Yogita lying seriously injured.

A case had initially been registered at the Manipal Police Station stating that unidentified persons had assaulted Yogita with a cement block after robbing her gold chain.

Following the complaint, a special investigation team led by Manipal Police Inspector Mahesh Prasad was formed. Police examined CCTV footage from the surrounding areas and questioned several suspects. During the investigation, suspicion fell on Sushma, who was staying in the room adjacent to Yogita’s. During intense interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to committing the crime.

Financial Trouble Led to Crime

According to police, Sushma had been facing severe financial difficulties, and her family had allegedly been pressuring her for money. Since most of her earnings were being spent on her own expenses, she had been unable to send money home for the past three years. Her family had reportedly been insisting that she quit her job and return to her hometown.

Unable to arrange money, Sushma allegedly decided to steal Yogita’s gold chain and earrings. On the night of May 12 at around 9:30 pm, she slept in Yogita’s room.

Police said that at around 4:30 am on May 13, while Yogita was asleep, Sushma attacked her on the head using a concrete hollow block stone that she had already brought into the room. She then allegedly stole the gold chain and earrings and returned to her own room to avoid suspicion.

Helped Shift Victim to Hospital

Later, Yogita’s roommates Megha Gowda, Gagana and Nagarathna returned from their night shift and found her injured. Hearing their screams, Sushma also came out of her room and even helped them shift Yogita to a hospital in Manipal, police said.

Police arrested Sushma on May 13 and recovered the stolen gold chain and earrings from her possession.

The investigation team included Manipal PSI Thimmesh B.N., Shambhulingayya, ASI Vivek, Chetan, Ajmal, Raviraj, Manjunath, Udupi Town Police personnel Jeevan, Prasanna, Mallayya, Hemanth, and crime scene officers Rakshan Kamath and Rashmi. Officials from the Social Welfare Department, Suchitra and Vinayak Balagadde, also assisted in the investigation.