Udupi City Police have arrested a habitual house burglar and recovered gold ornaments worth a substantial Rs65,79,720. The accused has been identified as Sukesh Naik (37), a resident of Kukkikatte in Kukkehally Village.
The case began after Shaila Wilhelm Meena (53) of Rose Villa near Sharadamba Temple Gopura in 76 Badagubettu Village filed a complaint on November 30. She discovered the theft when she opened her bedroom wardrobe at around 8:30 AM to wear jewelry before going to church. She found that 548.31 grams of gold ornaments and a mobile phone were missing. The Udupi Town Police Station subsequently registered the case.
Under the direction of DySP D.T. Prabhu of the Udupi Sub-Division and the leadership of Inspector (In-charge) Mahesh Prasad P., a special investigation team was formed. PSI Bharatesh Kankanawadi and staff members tracked down and arrested Sukesh Naik on December 2 near Hiren Bar at Kinnimulky. Following his interrogation, police recovered the stolen jewelry from his residence in Ajjarakadu.
Investigators confirmed that Naik is a notorious repeat offender with involvement in 11 previous housebreaking cases across the Udupi district. His criminal history includes five cases under Udupi Town Police Station (four resulting in conviction), three cases under Hiriadka Police Station (one conviction), two under Brahmavar Police Station, and one under Manipal Police Station, which is still under trial.
With the recovery of gold weighing 548.31 grams and valued at Rs65.79 lakh, police have initiated further legal proceedings against the accused.
