Techie addicted to betting turns thief

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

In a shocking incident, Magadi Road Police have arrested a young software engineer who turned to house thefts and chain snatching to fund his crippling online betting addiction.
The accused, K.A. Murthy (27), hails from Shivamogga and had moved to Bengaluru along with his family after his father sold their ancestral property to clear his son’s mounting debts. Despite repeated family efforts to help him start afresh, Murthy continued to gamble heavily on online betting platforms and quickly fell into deeper debt.
According to police sources, Murthy, once employed as a software engineer in Bengaluru, began breaking into houses and targeting women visiting temples to snatch jewellery. In one such case, he snatched a gold chain from a woman who was visiting the Angala Parameshwari temple.
Police say Murthy was arrested after the chain-snatching complaint was filed at Magadi Road Police Station. During interrogation, several other thefts came to light, linking him to burglaries under the jurisdictions of Konanakunte, Suddhiguntepalya, and Avalahalli police stations.
Investigating officers revealed that Murthy’s father, Annappa, had exhausted his savings and sold property in Shivamogga to help repay his son’s previous betting debts, hoping the family could rebuild their lives in Bengaluru. But Murthy’s addiction only worsened, pushing him back into crime to secure easy money for gambling.
Police have recovered 245 grams of gold jewellery worth about ?17 lakh from the accused. Murthy is now in judicial custody and further investigation is underway to identify any additional victims or accomplices.
The case has sparked concern over the growing trend of educated youth falling prey to betting apps and ruining their lives, families, and careers. Police have urged the public to report suspicious activities and remain cautious, especially near temples and isolated residential areas.