Mangaluru, August 16, 2025: In a daring incident, a Kerala-based gold trader, Srihari, was kidnapped in Mangaluru on August 13, 2025, and robbed of 350 grams of gold valued at approximately ₹35 lakh. The owner of a jewellery shop in Kerala, Srihari lodged a complaint with the Pandeshwar police station after being released by the culprits.

The incident occurred around 7 a.m. when Srihari arrived at Mangaluru Central Railway Station from Kerala, carrying a 350-gram gold bar. While waiting near Kairali Hotel for an auto-rickshaw, a group arrived in an Innova car, claiming to be customs officials. When Srihari resisted their demand to enter the vehicle for an inspection, he was forcibly pushed inside. The gang drove him through Udupi towards Kumta-Sirsi, where they stole the gold bar before abandoning him in Antravalli village, Sirsi. Shocked but unharmed, Srihari returned to Mangaluru and reported the crime.

Pandeshwar police have launched an investigation, securing strong evidence about the gang and expressing confidence in apprehending the culprits soon. Authorities suspect that individuals familiar with Srihari’s business dealings and travel plans may have orchestrated the robbery, and investigations are focusing on this angle.

The robbers used a vehicle with a BH (Bharat Series) registration, which has raised suspicions. BH registration, introduced by the Government of India, allows seamless vehicle movement across states without re-registration, typically used by government employees or businesses with multi-state operations. Police are probing whether the number plate was genuine or fake and are working to identify the vehicle’s owner to trace the perpetrators.