Bengaluru Police Crack Down on Extortion Ring, Arrest Five Including Minors
The Bengaluru police made a significant breakthrough on Thursday. They apprehended five individuals in connection with an extortion case in the Kengeri area. This incident sheds light on a troubling trend in the city. School dropouts and repeat offenders are increasingly involved in violent criminal activities.
Details of the Accused and Their Criminal History
Among those arrested is an 18-year-old man named Akhil. The police revealed a shocking detail about him. He has more than thirty criminal cases registered against him across various parts of Bengaluru. The other adult accused are Suresh and Shashikumar, both aged 21. Two minors, aged 16 and 17, were also taken into custody.
All the accused individuals are school dropouts. They live in the Magadi Road area and are known to be close associates. A senior police officer provided insight into their motives. "They committed these offences primarily for money," the officer stated. "The stolen cash was largely spent on alcohol and drugs."
The case of Akhil is particularly concerning. He had been sent to a remand home on several occasions when he was still a minor. On two of those occasions, he managed to escape from custody. "Even after turning 18, he has continued to be involved in similar crimes," the officer added, expressing frustration over the cycle of reoffending.
The Extortion Incident and Subsequent Investigation
The case originated from a complaint filed on December 22, 2025. A resident of Kengeri approached the police with a harrowing story. He and his wife were travelling in an autorickshaw along the Bengaluru–Mysuru Road in the early hours. They were threatened with a knife and robbed. The attackers fled with one lakh rupees in cash and a gold ring.
What started as a single extortion complaint quickly expanded. The police investigation uncovered a much wider network of criminal activity. Acting on tips from informants, officers arrested three of the accused from Ramohalli on January 3. During this operation, they recovered an autorickshaw, a two-wheeler, and five thousand rupees in cash.
The arrested individuals confessed to their involvement in several serious crimes. Their admissions included charges of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, theft, and assault. These crimes were registered across both Bengaluru city and its rural districts.
Further Arrests and Recovery of Stolen Property
The investigation gained more momentum on January 5. Police apprehended the two minor suspects near Hegganahalli Cross. Based on information provided by these youths, officers conducted another search. They recovered additional stolen property from a vacant plot in Doddagollarati.
The recovered items included:
- Another autorickshaw
- Two more two-wheelers
- A quantity of silver ornaments
In total, the police seized a substantial haul from the accused. The recovered property is valued at approximately ten lakh rupees. It consists of:
- Two autorickshaws
- Three two-wheelers
- Cash
- Silver ornaments
Solving Multiple Cases and Police Concerns
These arrests enabled the police to solve several other pending cases. They successfully detected seven criminal incidents, including:
- Extortion cases in Kengeri and Mahalaxmi Layout
- Two-wheeler theft cases reported from multiple police station limits
The three adult accused were remanded to judicial custody on January 8. The two minors were sent to the Government Remand Home in Madiwala. A police officer highlighted a growing concern. There is a noticeable rise in the involvement of minors in serious crimes. Many of these young offenders are becoming increasingly aggressive.
"We are seeing minors who have spent time in remand homes continuing to commit crimes," the officer explained. "They know that getting out is relatively easy and punishments are not strict." The officer further noted that these youths often escalate their criminal activities after leaving remand homes. They frequently progress to more serious offences, as demonstrated in this case.
This incident underscores a critical challenge for law enforcement in Bengaluru. Addressing the cycle of crime among juvenile and young adult offenders requires urgent attention and possibly stricter legal measures.
