In a shocking incident of familial betrayal, the Vijayawada police have arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly stealing gold ornaments worth approximately Rs 23 lakh from his own aunt's residence. The arrest, made on Saturday, brings to light a crime planned around New Year celebrations.
New Year Celebration Turns into Opportunity for Theft
The accused has been identified as Gandikota Manoj Kumar, a resident of Tadepalli. According to police officials, Manoj Kumar is the nephew of the complainant, a woman named Aruna. The theft was reported from her house in Vambe Colony on December 31.
Police revealed that the young man, struggling with alcohol addiction, was in desperate need of quick money. Seeing an opportunity during the New Year festivities, he meticulously observed the movements of his aunt's family. On the evening of December 31, when Aruna and her family left their home to attend New Year prayers at a church, Manoj Kumar allegedly executed his plan.
Modus Operandi and Swift Police Action
Taking advantage of the empty house, the accused broke into the locked property. He then forced open the locks of an iron safe inside. From this safe, he stole gold ornaments weighing a total of 176 grams. The market value of the stolen jewellery was estimated to be around Rs 23 lakh.
Upon returning home and discovering the burglary, the distressed family immediately lodged a formal complaint with the Vijayawada police. Crime Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police M Raja Rao stated that special police teams were swiftly formed to investigate the case.
The investigation leveraged technical analysis and systematic questioning, which led the police directly to the complainant's nephew. Manoj Kumar was traced and taken into custody. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to committing the theft.
Recovery and Ongoing Investigation
In a significant breakthrough for the investigators, the police successfully recovered the entire 176 grams of stolen gold from the possession of the accused. The seized ornaments were duly documented and produced as material evidence in the case.
Following the necessary procedures, the arrested individual was presented before a local court. Police officials have indicated that further investigation is underway. A key focus is to verify whether Gandikota Manoj Kumar has been involved in any similar criminal offences in the past.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of how personal vices like addiction can lead to severe crimes, even within family circles, causing irreparable emotional and financial damage.
