The sensational burglary at senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik’s home in IRC Village was solved with the arrest of the primary accused, Spider Satish, from Andhra Pradesh. The breakthrough came after 18 days of intense investigation, culminating in the arrest of 38-year-old Karri Satti Babu, also known by his aliases Satheesh Reddy and Spider Satish, in Visakhapatnam.
Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh revealed that the investigation involved analyzing over 400 CCTV cameras across Bhubaneswar, Sompeta, Srikakulam, and Vizianagaram, as well as verifying more than 10,000 mobile phone numbers from several states. The accused, originally from Bapuji Nagar Colony in Kotha Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam, had been evading capture and lived in Bheemilipatnam.
The case proved difficult as the burglar left no evidence at the crime scene. After a thorough investigation, police identified a crucial lead when they traced an autorickshaw that Satti Babu had used after ransacking Patnaik’s house on the night of January 25-26, 2024. The burglar made off with valuables worth over Rs 50 lakh and then took a car hired by a diamond merchant to escape to Andhra Pradesh.
Police teams from multiple states, including Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, collaborated with local authorities to track down the thief. Investigations revealed that Satti Babu had been incarcerated in Kerala in 2023 for his involvement in a similar gold theft case and had been involved in over 100 property offences in various states, including Odisha, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
Satti Babu used advanced techniques to evade capture, including targeting upscale areas after conducting detailed reconnaissance using Google and YouTube. He entered the Patnaik residence through a sliding glass window, wearing gloves, shoes, and a mask to avoid leaving any traces behind.
The police recovered stolen gold and diamond jewelry, Rs 7 lakh in cash, a car, mobile phones, and other crime-related items from his possession. The accused has been forwarded to court.
