Rehab runaways loot auto driver for liquor, cigarettes in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: In a chilling sequence of events, a 21-year-old youth and his 17-year-old accomplice—both struggling with addiction to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes—allegedly escaped from a rehabilitation centre a month ago and went on to execute a robbery, driven by withdrawal symptoms.

The case came to light after auto driver Darshan CR, a resident of Rayasandra in Electronics City, filed a complaint with Bagalur police on March 5. He told police that he had accepted a ride through an aggregator app on March 1 and picked up the two passengers – Kanish and the teenager – from Huskur for a drop near the back gate of Kempegowda International Airport.

But the routine trip for Darshan soon took a sinister turn. Near Budigere Cross, the duo asked Darshan to change the route, claiming they needed to visit a friend's house. After wandering for hours, they told him to stop at a deserted place.

When Darshan demanded the fare of Rs 1,080, the suspects said a friend would pay. Sensing something amiss, Darshan insisted on the payment. While the teenager distracted him with conversation, Kanish allegedly struck Darshan on the head with a stone. He then repeatedly assaulted him, smashing four of his teeth. Later, the duo fled the scene with Rs 28,000 kept in the dashboard of the auto, two mobile phones, and the auto itself, the complaint said.

A police team led by inspector Ashok tracked down Kanish at a rehabilitation centre near Harlur on March 25. During interrogation, he confessed that they had stolen a mobile phone from the rehab owner and used it to book the auto ride. With no money to pay, they decided to rob the driver.

Money spent on booze & cigarettes

Kanish drove the stolen auto to Malur in Kolar district and sold it for Rs 5,000, falsely claiming it belonged to his father, who, he said, was admitted to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. Supporting his claims, he even showed a patient's photo downloaded from the internet to the prospective buyer and claimed it was a medical emergency and promised to return with documents later.

The duo then spent the looted money and the proceeds from the sale on liquor and cigarettes, sleeping on roadsides and in under-construction buildings. Police, using CCTV footage and digital tracking, found that Kanish had returned to the rehab centre, leading to his arrest. The teenager remains on the run.

Investigators revealed that Kanish, the son of a businessman, had dropped out of college due to addiction. He told police the rehab centre did not allow him to smoke. His request for "at least one cigarette a day" was denied, triggering withdrawal symptoms that ultimately led to his escape. Police have since recovered the stolen auto.

They tracked Kanish's movements through the victim's mobile phones, which were linked to the aggregator app with GPS. He reportedly switched the devices on and off intermittently to evade detection.