Woman arrested for theft, stolen gold articles worth Rs 32 lakh seized
Bengaluru (PTI): A woman was arrested for her alleged involvement in theft of gold jewellery and cash by posing as a relative and attending functions at marriage halls here, police said on Tuesday.
With her arrest, police claimed to have seized 262 grams of gold jewellery worth Rs 32 lakh.
According to police, in her complaint, a resident of Manjunatha Nagar here said on the morning of November 23, she, along with her mother, had gone to a marriage hall in Basavanagudi to attend a relative's wedding.
They had kept a bag containing a 32-gram gold chain and an artificial collar chain in one of the rooms at the marriage hall.
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After the function, upon returning home and checking the bag, they found that the gold chain, worth approximately Rs 3 lakh, along with the artificial collar chain, had been stolen, police said.
Based on the complaint, a theft case was registered at Basavanagudi Police Station.
"During the course of investigation, police conducted inquiries from various angles and, based on credible information received from informants, apprehended a woman from her residence in Udayanagar, K R Puram, on December 1," a senior police officer said.
During detailed interrogation while in police custody, the accused disclosed that, apart from this case, she had committed thefts in two other cases registered at Basavanagudi Police Station, as well as thefts of gold jewellery at marriage halls in other districts, he said.
She further stated that the stolen gold jewellery had been kept at her residence and that she, along with her husband, had availed a gold loan by pledging the jewellery at a bank, the officer said.
Between December 2 and December 12, a total of 262 grams of gold jewellery was recovered from her residence and from the bank. The total value of the recovered jewellery is Rs 32 lakh, police said.
With her arrest, three theft cases registered at Basavanagudi Police Station have been detected, police said, adding that efforts are underway to trace theft cases committed in other districts. Further investigation is in progress.
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Karnataka gram panchayats achieve record 89 pc tax collection in 2025-26: Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has achieved a significant milestone in grassroots governance, with 5,943 gram panchayats across the state recording higher tax collection and revenue realisation in 2025-26 compared to the previous financial year, Minister Priyank Kharge said on Thursday.
The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj reported total tax collections of Rs 1,382.57 crore in 2025-26, marking an increase of Rs 110.04 crore over Rs 1,272.54 crore collected in 2024-25, the minister’s office said in a statement.
This represents a record 89 per cent realisation of the current demand, the highest in recent years, it added.
The Minister for Rural Development & Panchayat Raj said, “Our focus over the past few years has been on improving systems, ensuring accountability, and empowering local bodies to enhance their own revenue capabilities.”
“It is encouraging to see that every rupee collected is being reinvested into village infrastructure, public services, and local development. This is laying a strong foundation for inclusive and sustainable rural growth,” he added.
Karnataka had previously secured the top position at the national level in tax collection and revenue mobilisation, and the continued upward trend highlights the impact of efficient administration, strict enforcement of regulations, and strengthened tax collection mechanisms.
In 2024-25, gram panchayats had, for the first time in the department’s history, collected Rs 1,272.54 crore, achieving 80 per cent of the current demand.
Building on this momentum, the state further improved performance in 2025–26, reaching a record 89 per cent collection efficiency, the statement said.
This achievement has been driven by extensive awareness campaigns, targeted tax collection drives, and the sustained efforts of officials at all levels—from gram panchayat bill collectors to senior administrators, the minister said, congratulating all staff and officers for their contribution.
Highlighting district-level performance, Priyank noted that Raichur district recorded an exceptional 129 per cent tax collection, while 11 districts across the state achieved over 100 per cent collection, demonstrating strong local-level execution and compliance.
Over the past three years, Karnataka has witnessed a steady upward trend in tax collection. The increased revenue is being channelled into public works, improved civic services, and local development initiatives, contributing to the overall progress of rural communities, he added.
