Cab driver among four held for ₹7.5 lakh robbery in Chickballapur

The victim stepped out of his residence carrying cash intended for starting a travel agency business. | Photo Credit: Nisha Dutta The Chickballapur police arrested four persons, including a cab driver, within three hours of a businessman being allegedly attacked with chilli powder and robbed of ₹7.5 lakh at knifepoint in Gauribidanur. According to the police, the incident occurred on May 11 in Vinayakanagar. The victim, Shivashankara Aradhya, stepped out of his residence carrying cash intended for starting a travel agency business. The victim had arranged nearly ₹14 lakh by pledging and selling family jewellery to purchase vehicles for the proposed business venture. As Mr. Aradhya was leaving his house with part of the money, two unidentified men on a motorcycle allegedly intercepted him, threw chilli powder into his eyes, threatened him with a machete, and escaped with a bag containing ₹7.5 lakh. Following the complaint, a special investigation team was formed led by Police Superintendent Kushal Chowksey. During the investigation, the police detained Yashwanth, a cab driver known to the victim and who had allegedly advised him to start the business. The police said Yashwanth confessed to masterminding the robbery along with his associates. Based on the information provided during interrogation, the police arrested three more accused — Darshan, Bharath, and Vishakantamurthy from Bengaluru. Apart from recovering the ₹7.5 lakh, the police seized a car, a motorcycle, and the machete allegedly used in the crime. Published - May 13, 2026 07:41 pm IST