What Happened to Kerala HC Judge's Missing Gold?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Six sovereigns of gold were stolen from a Kerala HC judge's home.
- The incident occurred in a high-security area of Kochi.
- Police are investigating the case and compiling a list of potential witnesses.
- Rising crime rates have prompted discussions about security in Kerala.
- Authorities recommend landlords verify tenant backgrounds.
Kochi, 27 June (NationPress) The Kochi police have received a complaint regarding a theft at the residence of Kerala High Court Judge Justice A. Badharudeen, as reported by officials on Friday. The complaint indicates that six sovereigns of gold have gone missing from his home.
The report, filed on Thursday, claims that the gold was taken from the judge's bedroom. The police have officially logged the incident as an FIR under Section BNS 305.
This incident has caught many off guard, especially since the theft occurred in a high-security residence situated in the commercial hub of the state.
The judge lodged the complaint with the Kalamassery police, which oversees his residential area.
Following initial investigations, authorities are working on a list of individuals to interview, given that the crime took place in a senior judge's private space.
Details are still forthcoming.
This incident has sparked concerns about the overall security landscape in the region. The Congress-led UDF has criticized the state government for its inability to effectively tackle crime.
Reports indicate that Kerala has become a hotspot for organized gangs from surrounding states that specialize in home burglaries, with an increase in cases involving non-Keralite criminals.
According to data shared by the home department in the Assembly last year, 192 theft cases involving non-Keralites were recorded in 2021, escalating to 360 in 2022 and further to 519 in 2023. By September 2024, 307 such cases had already been documented. Despite these challenges, the Kerala Police have successfully apprehended over 1,350 thieves during this timeframe.
However, solving the burglary at the judge's residence poses a significant challenge for law enforcement.
In light of the rising crime rates, the Ernakulam Police have issued new guidelines for landlords renting out properties, recommending that they obtain a police clearance certificate from potential tenants' local police station.