₹2.25 crore gold, silver burgled from Tumakuru home during wedding
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Gold and silver valuables worth an estimated ₹2.25 crore were allegedly stolen from the residence of Lakshman Ganapat Pawar at Chikpet in Tumakuru city, Karnataka, while his family was away attending their son's wedding celebrations, police said on Thursday, 3 September. Pawar, who owns a gold testing unit and is originally from Maharashtra, returned home to find the house ransacked and the valuables missing.
How the Burglary Unfolded
The family had travelled to their native place in Maharashtra for the wedding. While the family remained away after the ceremony, their staff returned to Tumakuru. On 31 August, one of the workers reportedly called the family to alert them that the grill on the compound wall had been cut and suspected that unidentified persons had entered the premises.
The family returned to Tumakuru at around 11.30 pm on Wednesday and confirmed the breach. The front door had been damaged, apparently with a weapon, and the window grill was found broken. Inside, cupboards and drawers in the bedroom had been forced open, with clothes scattered across the floor.
What Was Stolen
According to police, the burglars allegedly removed gold biscuits, gold ornaments, and silver articles — including gold and silver biscuits stored in a wall compartment — and gold kept beneath the cot where family members slept. The total estimated value of the stolen items stands at ₹2.25 crore, according to the family's account.
The family suspects the burglary was carried out by persons familiar with the layout of the house and the precise locations where valuables were stored, according to reports.
Investigation Underway
A complaint has been lodged with the police, and an investigation is underway to identify the accused and recover the stolen valuables. No arrests have been reported so far.
A Recurring Pattern in Karnataka
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of high-value residential burglaries across Karnataka, particularly targeting families absent for social functions. In January 2026, a couple employed as domestic help allegedly stole valuables worth approximately ₹18 crore — including 11.5 kg of gold and diamond jewellery valued at ₹17.74 crore, 5 kg of silver, and ₹11.5 lakh in cash — from a builder's residence near Marathahalli, Bengaluru, while the family was at a function.
In March 2026, a 19-year-old from Rajasthan broke into a locked villa in Judicial Layout, Yelahanka, and decamped with 1.833 kg of diamond and gold ornaments worth ₹3 crore while the resident was abroad. Bengaluru police subsequently tracked him to his native village and recovered the entire stolen haul.
The Tumakuru case underscores growing concerns about residential security in Karnataka, particularly for households storing high-value assets at home. Investigators are expected to examine whether the Tumakuru burglary involved insider knowledge of the family's schedule and the location of the valuables.