Three arrested for robbing people in guise of police

The Thlaghattapura police have arrested three persons, including a former home guard, for robbing people on NICE Road and surrounding areas, posing themselves as police officers of anti-rowdy squad.

The arrested are Raghu (34), a resident of Kanakapura, Doddayya (48) of Anekal, and Harish (31), a native of Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu.

The police said, Raghu had earlier worked as a home guard and was a driver to an RTO in Ramanagaram. Doddayya used to work for Muthoot Finance in Shivamogga and got arrested there in a POCSO case. He became unwell and was shifted to Parappana Agarahara central prison where he met Raghu. Both became  friends and went about craftily planning the crimes in jail, the police added.

After the duo were let out on bail, Raghu bought a brand new Bolero, police uniforms, a toy pistol and a   board to make his vehicle look like a police vehicle. Doddayya drove an Innova of Raghu's relative and stitched himself Safari suits to pose himself as crime staff. He had a licensed gun which he carried always, the police said.

Both Raghu and Doddayya, along with their associate Harish, used to travel on NICE road and surrounding areas and search for vulnerable couples in cars and bikes especially during weekends. They claimed that they were from an anti-rowdy squad. The trio then involve in some moral policing and threaten the woman that her parents will be informed about their relationship. They then rob them of their jewels, valuables, and cash and flee the spot, the police said.

The Thalaghattapura police received a complaint from a woman and her boyfriend that a few men in the guise of policemen robbed them off their phone and Rs 5000 in cash. The police on a tip-off, intercepted the gang of three, and arrested them.

A total of 14 cases of robberies were solved and the police have recovered 500 gm gold ornaments Rs 4 lakh in cash and two four-wheelers from them.

Investigations revealed the trio had committed crimes in Thalaghattapura, Kengeri, RR Nagar, Electronic City, Kaggalipura, Harohalli, Bidadi, Kumbalgodu, Taverekere, Girinagar, and Hulimavu.