Haveri, Karnataka: In a shocking case of insider betrayal, the Hirekerur police have arrested six individuals, including a serving police constable, for a planned farmhouse theft in Hale Nidunegilu village, Hirekerur taluk.
The accused have been identified as Raghavendra, Vijay, Mallesh, Kantesh, Nagesh – all natives of Bagalkote – and Pradeep Nayak, a car driver at the Hirekerur police station.
According to police, the theft occurred on the night of January 19 at the farmhouse of Mallanagouda Ishwargouda Patil, who had kept a large sum of cash for his new house construction. Investigations revealed that the crime was masterminded by constable Pradeep Nayak, who is also related to the village as a son-in-law. Nayak allegedly used his local knowledge and police position to collect details about the house layout and the victim’s finances, sharing them with his associates under the guise of night beat duties.
Around 11:30 pm, the gang broke into the farmhouse, escaping with approximately 90 grams of gold, 0.5 kg of silver, and nearly Rs5 lakh in cash.
After a complaint was filed, police investigations quickly pointed toward inside involvement. Intensive questioning and technical evidence led to the identification of Pradeep Nayak as the mastermind.
All six accused have now been arrested, and part of the stolen property has been recovered. Authorities continue to investigate the remaining valuables and are checking whether the gang was involved in similar crimes. The incident has shocked local residents, particularly due to the involvement of a police employee in the theft.
