Man Beaten, Robbed in Bengaluru After Tracking Missing SUV Across 4 States
A 32-year-old man from Rajasthan who traveled to Bengaluru to reclaim his missing SUV was allegedly assaulted with iron rods and robbed in a dramatic incident spanning nearly 2,000 kilometers across four states. The case has led to the arrest of a 40-year-old businessman, highlighting the risks of taking matters into one's own hands.
Background of the Missing Vehicle
Chandra Prakash, a resident of Jodhpur, had lent his Hyundai Creta to a friend, Mahendra Gujjar, over one and a half years ago. Gujjar had promised to return the vehicle within a few weeks but failed to do so, prompting Prakash to file a formal complaint with the Jodhpur Police last year. However, the investigation made little progress, leaving Prakash frustrated and desperate to retrieve his car.
The Journey to Bengaluru
Determined to recover his SUV, Prakash began tracking the vehicle through a mobile application. The data indicated that the Creta was located in Bengaluru. Without informing the Jodhpur Police, Prakash arrived in the city around 7:30 AM on February 23, armed with a spare key, unaware that he would become central to a 16-hour ordeal.
The Dramatic Confrontation
On that day, Prakash traced the vehicle's location to Mangammanapalya in east Bengaluru. After locating the SUV parked by the roadside, he used the spare key and drove away late in the evening. As he approached Bommanahalli Circle around 11:10 PM, three men on a two-wheeler intercepted him. An argument broke out when Prakash questioned them, escalating into a violent assault where the trio allegedly beat him with an iron rod and a helmet. They then robbed him of his two cellphones and drove away with the SUV. Local residents quickly alerted the police, who arrived at the scene.
Police Response and Arrest
Police shifted the injured Prakash to a hospital for treatment. Based on his complaint, authorities arrested Mangilal Choudary, a 40-year-old businessman from Rajasthan. A search is ongoing for the two other suspects involved in the attack. Choudary claimed that he had extended a friendly loan to an acquaintance who failed to repay him, and the SUV was handed over as security. Further investigation revealed that Gujjar had allegedly borrowed money from acquaintances and passed the vehicle to a friend of Choudary, who later returned it to him.
Recovery and Police Advice
Police successfully recovered the SUV and the two stolen cellphones. The investigating officer emphasized that Prakash should have sought police assistance instead of risking his safety to claim the vehicle. "Instead of risking himself to claim the vehicle, Prakash should have sought assistance from police," the officer stated, adding that the vehicle will be returned to Prakash after the court procedure is completed. This case serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of personal intervention in such matters.
