A man has been arrested by Kengeri police for the alleged theft of gold jewellery and cash from a relative’s house in Bengaluru during a Lakshmi Puja ceremony, they said.
Ashwath K.H. is believed to have taken advantage of the family members being away from home during the ceremony and used a duplicate key to enter the house. Gold ornaments were stolen at an estimated value of ₹8 lakh and another ₹8,000 in cash was also taken from the house, they said.
The incident occurred at Kailash BDA Apartment in Kengeri on the day of Lakshmi Puja. Ashwath was known by the complainant's family and occasionally visited their residence, the police said. The investigators believe that his knowledge of the house and family members' movements could have enabled him to carry out the theft.
Police said the accused first approached the residence after parking his car. Once he had gained access to the house, he used a duplicate key to enter while the family members were away. Ashwath removed two gold necklaces and a bracelet from the jewellery boxes or the storage rooms; instead of leaving them empty, he replaced them with fake jewellery to make sure the family didn’t notice the theft.
The accused also took ₹8,000 in cash kept on the prayer plate as part of the Lakshmi Puja arrangements. The combination of the missing jewellery and cash finally raised suspicion when the family members returned and checked their belongings. The discovery made them call the police and report the incident.
After the complaint, Kengeri police began to investigate the circumstances of the theft. The investigators also analysed CCTV footage from the apartment and areas around it to search for the suspect. Evidence that was collected during the investigation helped police to find Ashwath, according to the information available about the case.
The arrest has brought the alleged theft under investigation, and police are trying to establish the full sequence of events and whether other people were involved. Some of the stolen jewellery has been recovered, the police said. It is now up to the court to determine if all the details in the case could be verified.
This is also an example of the risks of unauthorised access to homes, particularly when the residents are away for religious functions or family events. Duplicate keys can be used to get in if they fall into the wrong hands, and a family member’s knowledge of the household’s daily life can be exploited by a stranger.
The Kengeri police have arrested a man accused of allegedly stealing gold jewellery from a relative’s house during a Lakshmi Puja ceremony and replacing the original ornaments with fake ones.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) September 29, 2026
The accused has been identified as Ashwath K.H., who had reportedly been visiting the… pic.twitter.com/IdDpWEmDi3
Cases involving stolen jewellery are particularly difficult because gold ornaments are so valuable and portable and can be altered or disposed of quickly. In this case, investigators would be analysing the recovered jewellery, CCTV footage and other evidence to build the case against the accused.
The Kengeri police investigation continues, and more may be revealed as officers question the accused and verify the evidence collected during the investigation. Ashwath's case is still under investigation and legal processes.
