Arrest of Accused Involved in Theft of Gold Ornaments Worth ₹11,25,000 at Belagavi Central Bus Stand
In recent days, following a theft incident at the Central Bus Stand, Belagavi, and as part of efforts to trace the stolen property and apprehend the accused, a special team was formed under the guidance of Shri Bhushan Borase, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Belagavi City; Shri Narayan Bharamani, K.S.P.S., Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law & Order); Shri Niranjanraje Aras, K.S.P.S., Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime & Administration); and Shri Santosh Satyanayak, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Market Sub-Division, Belagavi.
Under the leadership of Shri J. M. Kalimirchi, Police Inspector, Market Police Station, and comprising Shri Vitthal L. Havannavar, PSI, Shri S. M. Shinde, ASI (Market), along with crime branch staff, the team conducted a detailed investigation and successfully traced the case, leading to the identification of the following accused:
Aarti @ Parida Shiva Chougule, Age: 26 years, Resident of Vaddarwadi (Gangawadi), Belagavi
Saraswati Santosh Rokhade, Age: 45 years, Resident of Vaddarwadi (Gangawadi), Belagavi
Shiva Ram Chougule, Resident of Gangawadi, Belagavi (absconding)
During interrogation, the accused confessed that during the year 2024 they had committed theft on four occasions at the Central Bus Stand. It was also revealed that the husband of Accused No.1, Shiva Ram Chougule, was involved in the thefts. The stolen gold ornaments were melted and pledged in the name of Shiva Ram Chougule at H.D.B. Finance, Ramalingkhind Galli, Belagavi, to obtain money.
Based on this information, the police identified the said finance establishment, and in the presence of panch witnesses and goldsmiths, the manager of H.D.B. Finance, Ramalingkhind Galli, Belagavi, produced gold ornaments weighing 76 grams, valued at ₹11,25,000, which were seized.
Legal action has been initiated against the two arrested accused. The third accused is absconding, and efforts to trace and apprehend him are ongoing.
The successful detection of this case involved the dedicated efforts of officers from the Market Police Station—Shri J. M. Kalimirchi, Police Inspector; Shri Vitthal Havannavar, PSI; Shri S. M. Shinde, ASI—and police personnel Shri L. S. Kadolkar, Shri Naveenkumar A.B., Shri Vishwanath Malagi, Shri Ashir Ahmed Jamadar, Shri Shankar Kugatolli, Shri Suresh Kambale, Shri Karthik G.M., Shri M. B. Odeyar, Shri Mallikarjun Gudagopp, Ms. Pratibha Gidnnavar, Smt. Neetali Koli, Smt. Modina Jamalasabanavar, Ms. Savitri Godi, as well as technical staff Shri Ramesh Akki and Shri Mahadev Kashid.
The Commissioner of Police, Belagavi City, has expressed appreciation for the efficiency and commendable performance of all the officers and staff involved.
