Haveri Police Constable Arrested for Alleged Role in House Robbery Case
In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through the Karnataka police department, a District Armed Reserve (DAR) police constable has been arrested alongside five alleged robbers for his suspected involvement in a house robbery in Haveri district. The constable, identified as Pradeep Hanumantappa Naik, aged 37, has been suspended from service pending further investigation into his conduct.
Details of the Arrest and Seizure
The arrests were made following a robbery that occurred on the night of January 19 in Nidnagilu village, located within Hirekerur taluk of Haveri district. According to police reports, five individuals wearing monkey caps forcibly entered the residence of Mallangouda Patil. They threatened the five occupants with knives before making off with cash amounting to Rs 5 lakh, 40 grams of gold jewellery, and 244 grams of silver.
In response to the crime, four special teams were formed under the leadership of Ranebennur Deputy Superintendent of Police Lokesh. Their efforts led to the apprehension of the five primary suspects: Malleshappa Venkappa Naik from Shidenur village in Byadgi taluk, Kantesh Muttappa Waddar from Kerur village in Badami taluk, Ajeya Hanumant Salhalli from Belawadi in Bailhongal, Belagavi district, and Nagaraj Hanumant Waddar.
During interrogation, it was revealed that Constable Pradeep Naik had allegedly assisted in the robbery. Following verification of these claims, he was taken into custody. Police have seized significant evidence from the accused, including Rs 52,000 in cash, 7.7 grams of gold, the motorcycle used in the commission of the crime, and other related items. Investigators discovered that the accused had pawned the stolen gold at a finance company to secure a loan.
Background of the Accused Constable
Pradeep Naik is a 2008 batch police personnel who previously served as a driver for the Hirekerur Circle Police Inspector for four years. More recently, he was assigned to the Haveri DAR division. Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the motives behind his alleged actions and to understand how he developed associations with the other accused individuals.
Haveri Superintendent of Police Yashodha Vantagodi emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that the involvement of a police officer in such activities has brought embarrassment to the department. She confirmed that an internal investigation will be conducted to address the matter comprehensively.
Broader Implications and Police Response
This incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny following a recent Rs 7 crore robbery case in Bengaluru, which also involved police personnel. The department is now planning to initiate strict disciplinary actions to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
SP Yashodha Vantagodi provided a stern warning, quoting, "There is no excuse to initiate actions even against police personnel involved in anti-social activities; we will initiate stern actions against staff without any mercy." She further indicated that the arrested individuals are suspected of involvement in additional robbery cases, potentially extending beyond Haveri to other districts.
The case remains under active investigation as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the network and ensure accountability within the police force.
