Kaup police, assisted by a multi-state task force, arrested Umesh Balegara alias Umesh P alias Umesh Reddy (47), a habitual thief with over 30 cases registered across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
Umesh, a resident of Mallar village in Kaup taluk, was residing in Suchindram, Kanyakumari taluk, when he was apprehended in connection with a theft reported on December 4 in Mallar. The stolen items included 72 grams of gold, Rs 3.9 lakh in cash, and other valuables from the house of Raghavendra Kini.
The operation was led by Udupi SP Hariram Shankar, with a team including Additional SP Sudhakar S Naik, former ASP Harsha Priyamvada, DSP Prabhu DT, PI Azmath Ali G, and other officers.
Balegara has 16 cases registered in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, and 17 cases in Karnataka, with convictions in eight cases. Multiple non-bailable warrants were issued against him in various districts, including Thenhipalam, Mavoor, Trishur (Kerala), Subrahmanya, Belthangady, Puttur Town, Moodabidri, Sirsi Rural, Basavanahalli, and Shivamogga. Proclamations were also issued in connection with Sringeri police cases.
Padubidri PSI Anil Kumar T Naik, Kaup PSI Shubhakara, ASI Rajesh, and officers Mohanachandra, Jeevan, Jagadish, Dinesh, and Nithin were part of the arrest operation.
Authorities are continuing investigations to trace further criminal activities and recover any remaining stolen assets.
