Bengaluru: Constable arrests accused after a daring cinematic-style chase

Team Udayavani, Aug 9, 2024, 1:28 PM IST

Scene of the chase. (Inset) the accused Manjesh (L) and Constable Dodda Lingayya (R)

Bengaluru:  After a thrilling cinematic-style chase, a constable in Bengaluru has successfully arrested a wanted man who was involved in over 40 cases, including fraud and theft. The daring arrest took place amid the city’s bustling traffic, where the constable risked his life to nab the fugitive.

The arrested individual has been identified as Manjesh alias Hotte Manja, a resident of Hesaraghatta. The arrest was made by Constable Dodda Lingayya of the Koratagere police station.

During the arrest, the police seized Rs 10,000 in cash and 135 grams of gold jewellery worth Rs 6.75 lakh from the accused. Manjesh has more than 40 cases of theft and fraud registered against him in several police stations across Karnataka, including Koratagere.

Recently, a theft occurred at a house near a bank in the Koratagere police station limits. During the investigation, CCTV footage from the crime scene provided information about Manjesh. However, gathering more details revealed that the accused had been living discreetly, avoiding the use of phones, and taking parcels instead of eating at hotels. He was residing in lodges, making it difficult to track him. After reviewing hundreds of CCTV cameras, the police discovered that Manjesh had come to Bengaluru.

Constable Dodda Lingayya, along with other personnel, launched an operation with the help of the city police. They gathered information that the accused was regularly moving around the Sadashivanagar area.

A Month-Long Operation:

The operation to capture the accused lasted for about a month.  The police managed to unearth specific information about his movements.

On August 6, at around 10 AM, Constable Dodda Lingayya was waiting in plain clothes near a traffic signal in Sadashivanagar. When Manjesh approached on a two-wheeler, the constable attempted to intercept and take him into custody.

The accused tried to flee on his scooter, dragging the constable for about 50 meters. Despite this, Dodda Lingayya held on to the scooter and managed to subdue the accused. With the assistance of a traffic ASI, a home guard, and local citizens, the accused was finally arrested.

During the incident, some members of the public physically assaulted the accused, and the video of the arrest has gone viral on social media. The public and senior police officials have praised Dodda Lingayya for his bravery.

In addition to theft, the accused had been deceiving elderly pensioners, widows, and others by promising to facilitate government pension schemes. He would convince them to hand over their Aadhaar cards and ration cards, promising to help them. After dropping them off near banks or government offices, he would steal their gold jewelry, claiming it was necessary to secure the benefits, and then flee, police claimed.

The police stated that he used the money from selling the stolen jewelry for leisure trips to Goa.

Commenting on the incident, Constable Dodda Lingayya said, “If I had missed this opportunity, it would have been difficult to arrest him again. We have been searching for him in Bengaluru for a month. He was moving around with his face covered with a mask and a helmet, which made tracking him challenging. However, based on specific information, we waited near the designated signal and arrested the accused.”