Police Personnel Among Nine Arrested in Karnataka Crime Spree
In a shocking revelation of police misconduct, nine individuals including four police personnel have been arrested in separate cases of robbery and extortion across Karnataka. The incidents, occurring in Davanagere and Bengaluru, have raised serious questions about police integrity and public trust in law enforcement.
Davanagere: Sub-Inspectors Accused of Jewelry Robbery
In Davanagere, seven people including two police sub-inspectors were arrested for allegedly threatening and robbing a jeweler on Monday, November 24, 2025. The arrested officers were identified as Malappa Chippalakatti and Praveen Kumar, both attached to the office of the Davanagere Eastern Zone Inspector General of Police (IGP).
According to police reports, the incident occurred near the Davangere bus stand when Vishwanath Arkasali, a jeweler from Karwar, boarded a bus to return home. The two accused police personnel entered the bus, physically dragged Arkasali out without explanation, and flashed their official ID cards when questioned.
Uma Prashant, Superintendent of Police (SP), Davangere, stated that the officers took the victim to KTJ Nagar police station before transferring him to another vehicle. "The accused threatened the victim and falsely accused him of smuggling gold from Dubai and other countries," the SP revealed during a press conference on Tuesday.
The FIR details how the officers confiscated 76 grams of gold bars and a ring weighing 2.15 grams before releasing Arkasali back at the bus stand. After initially proceeding to Karwar, the victim returned to Davangere on Monday to file an official complaint, leading to the arrest of the two sub-inspectors and their five accomplices by Tuesday morning.
Bengaluru: Constables Caught in Extortion Racket
In a separate incident in Bengaluru, two police constables were arrested for allegedly extorting Rs 10,300 from an insurance agent earlier this month. The accused, identified as Basavaraj and Gurudutt from JP Nagar police station, targeted Varadaraju while he was sitting in a car with a female friend on November 1.
The constables, who were on patrol duty, approached the couple around 8:45 PM and accused them of indulging in anti-social activities. Without allowing explanations, Basavaraj entered their car and began driving toward the police station, with Gurudutt following separately.
During the journey, the officers allegedly threatened to seize the vehicle unless Varadaraju paid them Rs 40,000. After negotiation, the victim transferred Rs 10,300 to one of the constables through digital payment before being released.
Varadaraju filed a formal complaint at JP Nagar police station on November 5. An internal investigation confirmed the constables' involvement, leading to their arrest and subsequent suspension from service.
Pattern of Police Misconduct Emerges
These incidents are not isolated cases in Karnataka. Last week, Chalapathy, a constable from Malur police station in Kolar district, was arrested for allegedly kidnapping four BPO managers in Bengaluru in an attempt to extort Rs 8.90 lakh from them.
Additionally, on November 19, Annappa Naik, a constable attached to Govindapura police station in Bengaluru, was arrested for his alleged involvement in robbing Rs 7.11 crore from a vehicle transporting cash for ATM replenishment.
Police authorities have seized the car used in the Davanagere robbery along with a fake pistol. All arrested individuals remain in custody as investigations continue into these alarming cases of police misconduct that have shaken public confidence in law enforcement agencies across Karnataka.
