Davangere: Two police sub-inspectors (PSIs) and five others were arrested on Tuesday by the Davangere police after a sensational gold robbery came to light, revealing that the alleged crime was carried out not by ordinary thieves but by police personnel themselves.
According to media reports, the two PSIs, along with a group of local jewellery traders, allegedly conspired to rob gold ornaments worth ₹7.5 lakh, including 78 grams of gold jewellery and a gold bar, from Vishwanath Arkasali — a gold artisan from Karwar — in the early hours of Monday.
The arrested officers have been identified as PSI Malappa Chippalakatti and PSI Praveen Kumar.
Chippalakatti had recently been transferred from Hamsabhavi Police Station in Haveri district to Sagar Police Station in Shivamogga district. Praveen Kumar had been transferred from Ranebennur Traffic Police Station to the wireless wing of the IG office in Davangere. However, both officers had not reported to their new postings.
The other arrested accused include Davangere-based jewellery traders Satish Revankar, Nagaraj Revankar, Dundeppa, Nagesh, and Dilyappa.
Police have seized 78 grams of gold ornaments, one gold bar, two air guns, and three cars during the investigation.
How the robbery took place
According to police sources, Vishwanath Arkasali — a resident of Padmanabha Nagar in Karwar (Uttara Kannada) and a professional jewellery artisan — had collected gold bars and old rings from jewellery traders in Mandipete and Halepete. After completing his work, he reached the KSRTC bus terminal at around 12:30 am on November 23 to return to Karwar.
At that moment, the accused PSIs intercepted him, pulled him out of a Hubballi-bound bus, and took him to the KTJ Nagar Police Station, introducing themselves as officials of the IG squad.
They falsely accused Vishwanath of smuggling gold to Goa and Dubai. Later, they took him in a private car to a deserted location, brandished an air gun, and threatened to file a false case against him unless he handed over the gold in his possession. Terrified by the threats, Vishwanath surrendered the gold ornaments and the gold bar. The officers then dropped him back at the bus stand.
Vishwanath immediately rushed to the KTJ Nagar Police Station and filed a complaint.
Jewellery traders supplied insider information
The investigation revealed that the jewellery traders from Davangere had played a crucial role in the plot. They had provided the PSIs with detailed information about Vishwanath, including the quantity of gold he was carrying, the places from where he had purchased the gold, his travel timings, and even his photograph. Using this insider information, the accused PSIs planned and executed the robbery.
Departmental action initiated
Superintendent of Police Uma Prashanth stated that disciplinary proceedings have already been initiated against the two PSIs. A detailed report regarding their involvement has been submitted to the higher authorities.