Bengaluru, 16 May

A 45-year-old cab driver has been arrested for allegedly stealing a handbag containing valuables worth Rs 22.5 lakh from a parked car belonging to Kannada actress Rukmini Vijayakumar. The incident occurred near Cubbon Park on the morning of 11 May, prompting the actress to file a complaint with local police.

Rukmini, a resident of Koramangala, had parked her car on Queens Road while on her morning walk. Unbeknownst to her, she left the boot of her vehicle unlocked, with the handbag inside containing two diamond rings valued at Rs 14 lakh, a wristwatch worth Rs 9 lakh, a wallet worth Rs 75,000, and ear pods valued at Rs 20,000.

Upon returning, she was dismayed to discover the handbag missing and realised her oversight in not securing the boot. Following the report, local police scrutinised CCTV footage from the area, leading them to identify the suspect, Mohammad Mastan, at his home in Mahalakshmi Layout.

Mastan confessed to the crime and returned the stolen items to the police, who subsequently recovered the valuables and handed them back to the actress. The police stated that he had taken advantage of the unlocked vehicle.