Domestic help held for stealing employer's silver worth ₹35 lakh in Bengaluru

A domestic worker in Bengaluru has been arrested for allegedly stealing 12.5 kg of silver worth ₹35 lakh from her employer's home over two years.

A domestic worker has been arrested for allegedly stealing 12.5 kg of silver articles worth around ₹35 lakh from the house of her employer here, police said on Friday.

The accused woman reportedly sold the stolen items to fund her husband's cancer treatment, leading to her eventual discovery and arrest in Bengaluru. (Representative image/AP)

Chaitra has been arrested by the Jeevan Bima Nagar Police Station.

She had been working for the past two-and-a-half years at the residence of a surgeon attached to a reputed hospital in the city, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh told reporters.

According to him, the woman is a native of Davangere and allegedly stole silver utensils and Pooja articles from the house in phases.

"The family had stored about 12.5 kg of silver utensils on the upper floor, which were meant to be used only during festivals."

A few days before Deepavali, the accused reportedly quit her job.

"When the family opened the bag containing the silver utensils as part of festival preparations, they found the items missing and approached the police," the Commissioner said.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered and an investigation was launched.

"We questioned former employees and during Chaitra's interrogation, the theft came to light. We have recovered 12.5 kg of silver articles worth approximately ₹35 lakh from her possession," he stated.

A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress.

According to police sources, she cited the need for money for her husband's cancer treatment, police sources said.