Bengaluru: Night-blind burglar strikes actor’s home, walks away with Rs 65-lakh booty
JP Nagar police apprehended Mehaboob Khan Patan, a 38-year-old burglar. His night blindness compelled him to commit crimes only during daylight hours. Patan stole valuables worth Rs 65.2 lakh from actor Praveen Kumar M's residence. He confessed to multiple thefts across states. Recovered items include gold, silver, cash, and a two-wheeler. His arrest solved seven theft cases.
JP Nagar police apprehended Mehaboob Khan Patan, a 38-year-old burglar. His night blindness compelled him to commit crimes only during daylight hours.
BENGALURU: JP Nagar police have arrested Mehaboob Khan Patan, a 38-year-old interstate burglar, whose night blindness forced him to commit crimes only during the day. Mehaboob, a resident of Nagavara, north Bengaluru, and a native of Andhra Pradesh, allegedly stole valuables from the residence of Kannada serial actor Praveen Kumar M and his wife Manasa M.Valuables worth Rs 65.2 lakh was recovered, including 478 grams of gold ornaments, 1.5kg of silver items, Rs 4.6 lakh in cash, and a two-wheeler. According to police, the burglary occurred after Mehaboob obtained a house key that had been left in a shoe rack at the actor's JP Nagar residence. "If the key had not been available, I would have broken the door," he allegedly confessed during interrogation. He admitted to committing similar thefts in multiple districts and revealed that he melts stolen gold at his residence before selling it.
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Owing to his night blindness, Mehaboob conducted all his burglaries during the day to avoid nighttime operations. "I cannot operate at night, so all my crimes were carried out in daylight," he told investigators. He typically works alone and has been involved in criminal activity since his teenage years, with 32 cases registered against him in various states.Probe into the theft at the actor's home began after Manasa filed a complaint stating that valuables, including a gold pendant, four rings, and a pair of earrings, were missing upon her return on March 17.
Mehaboob was arrested on Dec 5 near a tea shop at Nagawara Circle, along with the stolen two-wheeler.Further searches revealed that the stolen ornaments were kept at his residence in Sarai Palya and at a jewellery shop in Hassan dictrict. With his arrest, cops claim to have solved seven theft cases registered at JP Nagar, Balki, Santemaralli, Malavalli, and Hunsur police stations.