In a startling case of deception, Bengaluru police have apprehended a 46-year-old woman for orchestrating a series of thefts at wedding ceremonies across the city. The accused, identified as Revathi, allegedly posed as a relative of the bride or groom to gain access to private areas and steal valuables.
The Modus Operandi of a Wedding Crasher
According to the Basavanagudi police, Revathi's strategy was calculated and brazen. She would target bustling wedding functions at convention and marriage halls. Her method involved closely observing female guests who were adorned with gold jewellery and were preoccupied with rituals. Seizing the moment when attention was diverted, she would slip into rooms where belongings were kept, swiftly steal valuables, and exit the venue quietly without raising suspicion.
The case first came to light on November 23 following a complaint from a resident of Manjunatha Nagar. The complainant and her mother had attended a relative's wedding at a hall in Basavanagudi. They had stored a bag containing a substantial 32-gram gold chain and an artificial collar chain in a room, only to later discover both items missing. The gold chain alone was valued at approximately ₹3 lakh.
Arrest and Recovery of Stolen Goods
Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation which led them to Revathi, a former guest lecturer and resident of Udayanagar in K R Puram. She was arrested from her residence on December 1. During interrogation, she confessed to the theft at the Basavanagudi hall and admitted to committing similar offences at two other marriage halls in Basavanagudi and in other districts.
The police search yielded a significant recovery. Officers found and seized 262 grams of gold ornaments, with an estimated total value of around ₹32 lakh. Revathi disclosed that she had stashed part of the stolen jewellery at her home. The remainder had been pledged as collateral for a loan at a bank in Kadubeesanahalli.
From Lecturer to Alleged Thief: A Downward Spiral
Investigations revealed that Revathi had quit her teaching job a few years prior to her arrest. During police questioning, she cited severe financial pressures as the motive behind her criminal turn. She explained that her husband's cardiac ailment, coupled with the expenses for her son's education and other household needs, drove her to commit the thefts.
The Basavanagudi police have secured a 12-day police custody remand for Revathi to facilitate further investigation into the full extent of her crimes. The police are probing the possibility of her involvement in more such unreported incidents across the city and neighbouring districts.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for families attending large social gatherings. Police advise guests to be vigilant with their valuables, avoid leaving them unattended in unlocked rooms, and to report any suspicious individuals to event security or management immediately.
