Kolar man posing as ‘baba’ to rob families arrested; spent stolen riches on 3 wives, 10 children
Bengaluru: A 49-year-old cycle repair shop owner from Kolar, who posed as a ‘baba’ (holy man) to dupe families and steal gold jewellery, has been arrested by the Hulimavu police.
The accused, identified as Dadapeer, targeted middle-class households in Bengaluru and other cities by claiming he could ward off evil forces and solve domestic problems through special rituals, as reported by Deccan Herald on Wednesday.
After Dadapeer gained the victims’ trust, he would instruct them to bring their jewellery for a “special puja.” During the ritual, he placed the ornaments inside a box, sprinkled turmeric and flowers, and then asked the family to step out, saying the ritual required privacy. He would then flee with the valuables, telling the victims not to open the box for 21 days.
Police said Dadapeer approached families from different communities, adapting his appearance and speech to match their faith. He frequently changed SIM cards and names to stay off the police radar.
Investigations revealed that he had three wives, 10 children, and multiple extramarital affairs, added the report. The stolen gold and money were allegedly spent on his partners and personal luxuries.
Police said his arrest has helped crack at least three cases, with gold ornaments worth Rs 53 lakh recovered so far. They suspect he carried out similar offences in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
