In a major drive against two-wheeler thefts, the Belagavi police have arrested four people in two separate operations and recovered 18 stolen motorcycles and scooters worth around ₹6.55 lakh, officials said on Thursday. The arrests were carried out by two special teams.
In the first case, a City Crime Branch (CCB) team led by PSI Manjunath Bhajantri, under the supervision of CCB PI Nandishwar Kumbhar, traced two accused, Rajat Sanjay Shivangekar (29) from Belagavi and Vithal Sadeppa Arera (38) from Shigihalli in Bailhongal taluk. During questioning, Rajat admitted to committing thefts on KLE Hospital Road within APMC police station limits in three earlier cases, while Vithal confessed to stealing a bike from Port Road under Market police station jurisdiction.
Police recovered five two-wheelers from them: two Honda Activa scooters, two Splendor motorcycles, and one Bajaj Platina, valued at about ₹1.20 lakh. Both were booked, and further investigation is ongoing.
In another case, a special team from the APMC police station arrested Umesh Hanamant Bagewadi (33) and Maula Hasansab Halakarni (48), both from Hukkeri taluk, in connection with the theft of a Hero Splendor Plus motorcycle.
The case came to light after Deepak Gangadhar Bhaganagare filed a complaint about his stolen bike. A case was registered under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following the investigation, a team led by APMC PI US Avati arrested the accused and recovered 13 motorcycles, 11 Hero Splendor Plus and two Hero HF Deluxe bikes, worth around ₹5.35 lakh.
Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase praised the efforts of the special teams involved in the operations.
