A 45-year-old driver, Rajesh B, has been arrested for allegedly stealing over Rs1.5 crore in cash meant for bank deposit on behalf of his employer, a chartered accountant based in Vyalikaval near Malleswaram.
Rajesh, employed by Totaprasad for nearly ten years, reportedly decamped with tax collection money from several of Totaprasad’s clients on May 5. Totaprasad recounted that after handing over the cash bag around 3 p.m., Rajesh disappeared without explanation. Initial calls to Rajesh suggested a visit to a medical shop, but later his phone was unreachable.
City police traced Rajesh to a hideout in Kodandaramapura, recovering Rs1.2 crore from his residence. During interrogation, Rajesh admitted using Rs3 lakh to repay debts. Authorities stated Rajesh had no prior criminal record and described the act as opportunistic greed rather than premeditated.
This incident highlights a rising trend of thefts involving domestic workers and staff in Karnataka. Police recently arrested three women for unrelated servant theft cases involving gold and cash recovery. Between January 2024 and March 2025, the state saw 675 such cases, with 85% reported in cities like Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Mysuru. Authorities note an average of 45 thefts by domestic help reported monthly.
