Luxury with Loot: 37-Year-Old Bengaluru Thief Caught After Building ₹3 Crore Home for Girlfriend

Bengaluru Police have arrested a notorious thief who used stolen money to build a lavish ₹3 crore house for his girlfriend.

The accused, 37-year-old Panchakshari Swamy, hails from Solapur, Maharashtra. Despite being married and a father, he was known for his extravagant lifestyle and womanizing ways. Shockingly, police also uncovered his past connection with a well-known film actress.

Swamy's criminal journey began in 2003 when he was still a minor. By 2009, he had become a full-fledged burglar, amassing crores through house thefts. In 2014-15, he reportedly got into a relationship with a famous actress, spending huge sums on her, including gifting her an aquarium worth ₹22 lakh.

His luck ran out in 2016 when Gujarat Police arrested him. He was sentenced to six years in Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Central Jail. However, after his release, he returned to his old ways, getting arrested again in Maharashtra. After being released in 2024, Swamy shifted to Bengaluru and resumed burglaries.

Swamy's latest crime took place on January 9, when he robbed a house in Bengaluru's Madivala locality. Acting on intelligence, police tracked him down and arrested him near the Madivala market area. During questioning, he confessed to multiple crimes in Bengaluru, revealing that he operated with an associate.

Swamy went to great lengths to evade capture. Police found that he would change clothes on the road after committing crimes to avoid suspicion. He also used a fire gun to melt stolen jewellery, converting it into gold and silver biscuits.

A search of his residence in Solapur led to the seizure of:

• 181 grams of gold biscuits
• 333 grams of silver articles
• A fire gun used for melting jewellery

Swamy held a black belt in karate and came from a family with a railway background. His mother received a compensatory job after his father's passing. He also owned a house in his mother's name, but police discovered it was facing auction due to unpaid loans.

The case was cracked by a team led by DCP (Northeast) Sarah Fathima, Madivala ACP Laxminarayana K.C., and Inspector Mohammad M.A. of Madivala police station.