Bengaluru techie arrested for staging robbery to snatch ex-boyfriend’s phone
Bengaluru: A 29-year-old techie and four accomplices have been arrested for staging a robbery to seize her ex-boyfriend’s mobile phone, which reportedly contained private pictures of the two. Initially viewed as a road rage case, police investigations later revealed that the incident was a planned heist orchestrated by the woman.
The accused, P Shruti, along with four men — Manoj Kumar, Suresh Kumar, Honnappa, and Venkatesh, all residents of Kodathi — have been booked on charges of dacoity. Shruti’s friend, Dumpa Vamshi Krishna Reddy of Singasandra, had filed a complaint stating that they were robbed of their phones near a commercial store’s parking lot in Bhoganahalli around 8.30 pm on September 20.
Reddy’s complaint mentioned that a Swift Dzire car rammed into their vehicle from behind, and when he confronted the occupants, two men got out of the car and snatched their mobile phones. However, upon investigation, police discovered that no accident had occurred at the location. The accused reportedly blocked Reddy and Shruti, falsely claiming they had hit their vehicle, and fled with the phones.
Tracing the vehicle led the police to the cab’s driver, who revealed that the car had been booked for four hours. Following this lead, the police apprehended Manoj, a painter, who confessed that the robbery was a premeditated act, arranged by Shruti in exchange for Rs 1.1 lakh.
According to the police, Shruti and Reddy had been in a relationship and were planning to marry, but the relationship soured over personal issues. Fearing that Reddy might misuse their private photos, Shruti sought to get hold of his mobile phone despite his assurances that he had deleted the images. Suspecting otherwise, Shruti allegedly hatched the robbery plan and enlisted Manoj, who had worked at her house a few months earlier, to execute the plan.
After obtaining the mobile phones, Shruti’s attempts to access Reddy’s device were unsuccessful as it was locked. She then discarded the phone by throwing it into Singasandra Lake, the police said.
The Bellandur police have registered a case and arrested all five accused, including Shruti, for their involvement in the crime.
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SC regularises interim bail granted to Gujarat-based journalist in money laundering case
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed its earlier order of granting interim bail to journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case linked to a matter involving an alleged financial fraud lodged by the Enforcement Directorate at Ahmedabad.
The top court on December 15 last year had granted the interim bail to Langa and fixed the case for further hearing on April 10.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the probe agency, and said the interim order is confirmed.
The bench agreed to the contention of Mehta that the observations made in the bail order shall not be construed as remarks on merits of the case. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal had represented Langa.
Earlier, opposing the bail plea, the solicitor general had said, "Journalists extorting money and saying that if you do not pay, I will write against you is a serious offence."
The bench had granted the relief and ordered a day-to-day trial in the case and imposed certain conditions on the journalist, including asking him not to write any article in any media outlet about his sub-judice case and seek any adjournments before the special court.
"The petitioner will furnish the bail bonds to the satisfaction of the designated special court under the PMLA," it said, adding, "The special court is directed to take up the case on a day-to-day basis for consideration of charge and if charge is framed, recording the statements of all the nine witnesses."
The bench directed Langa and his counsel in the trial court to extend "full cooperation to the special court", and said "no adjournment shall be sought or permitted on the ground that quashing proceedings are separately pending before the high court".
It said this condition is being imposed as the high court has not granted a stay on the trial proceedings.
"The Directorate of Enforcement shall also cooperate with the special judge for taking up the case on a day-to-day basis," the apex court said.
Langa will be at liberty to raise all legal contentions, objections and defence pleas, and place the material for the special court's consideration in accordance with law, it added.
"The petitioner shall not publish or write any article in his position as an assistant editor of a newspaper with respect to the allegations, which are sub-judice against him, before the special judge at Ahmedabad," the bench said.
It also made it clear that the interim bail is being granted subject to the petitioner's "good conduct and behaviour".
On July 31, last year, the Gujarat High Court rejected Langa's bail plea in the case on the grounds that if he is granted the relief, prejudice would be caused to the prosecution case.
On February 25, 2025, the ED said it arrested Langa in connection with a money-laundering investigation linked to an alleged financial fraud.
The journalist was first arrested in October 2024 in a Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud case.
The money laundering case against Langa stems from two FIRs filed by the Ahmedabad Police on charges of fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating and causing wrongful loss of lakhs of rupees to certain people.
