MTech Engineer Turned Burglar Nabbed After Hitting Nagpur Houses
Nagpur: A former software engineer with an MTech degree, Ashish Reddimalla, was arrested in Chandrapur on Saturday for his alleged involvement in a series of burglaries across Nagpur.
The Dhantoli police, after a month-long investigation involving the scrutiny of 200 CCTV cameras, cracked five burglary cases in areas like Dhantoli, Ajni, and Sonegaon, recovering stolen goods worth Rs2.33 lakh from the accused.
Reddimalla, employed at an IT firm in Mihan until 2020, reportedly turned to crime to settle a Rs23 lakh debt accrued due to a gambling addiction. His sophisticated background made him an unlikely suspect, allowing him to blend seamlessly into urban settings.
"It's tough to suspect Reddimalla. He conducted reconnaissance with a bag on his shoulder, appearing anything but a thief," said senior inspector Anamika Mirzapure, who led the operation under the supervision of ACP Sudhir Nandeshwar and DCP Rahul Madane.
The police investigation revealed that Reddimalla, familiar with Nagpur's localities like Dhantoli, Ajni Square, Sonegaon, and Chhatrapati Nagar Chowk from his years working in the city, meticulously planned his heists.
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He had also broken into the residence of a govt employee, who had been shattered by the suicide of a teenager.
Operating after 2am, he used an iron rod to break locks and latches, swiftly looting homes before returning to Chandrapur by bus with the stolen goods. His methodical approach and knowledge of the city's layout made him elusive until a breakthrough came via CCTV footage.
A crucial lead emerged when police obtained footage capturing Reddimalla's image, which an informer later identified, enabling the Dhantoli police to track him to Chandrapur.
Sub-inspector Dhanaji Marakwad and his team worked tirelessly, analysing hours of CCTV recordings to piece together the suspect's movements. This arrest marks the third time Reddimalla was apprehended, having been caught twice earlier by Chandrapur police for similar offences.
The case highlights the growing challenge of urban crime involving educated individuals driven by addiction. Reddimalla's arrest has brought relief to residents in the affected areas, with police urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
The recovered items, including valuables worth Rs2.33 lakh and a lot of euro and dollar currency notes, are being returned to their rightful owners as investigations continue to uncover any additional crimes linked to the accused. Authorities are also probing whether Reddimalla operated alone or had accomplices in his burglary spree.
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