Uninvited guest: Bengaluru lecturer quits job, turns full-time thief; how she robbed wedding guests

BENGALURU: Basavanagudi police have arrested a 46-year-old woman for allegedly stealing gold ornaments, cash and other valuables from wedding functions by posing as a relative of the bride or groom. The accused, Revathi, has been remanded in police custody for 12 days.

Revathi, a former guest lecturer and a resident of Udayanagar in K R Puram was found to be involved in multiple thefts at convention halls.


Following her arrest, police recovered 262 grams of gold ornaments worth about Rs 32 lakh. Revathi had quit her teaching job a few years ago before allegedly turning to theft.

The case came to light after a complaint from a Manjunatha Nagar resident, who, along with her mother, attended a relative’s wedding at a marriage hall in Basavanagudi on Nov 23. They had kept a bag containing a 32-gram gold chain and an artificial collar chain in one of the rooms. Later, they discovered that the chain, valued around Rs 3 lakh, and the piece of artificial jewellery, were missing.

Revathi was arrested from her residence on Dec 1. During interrogation, she confessed to the theft and admitted to committing similar offences at two other marriage halls in Basavanagudi and in other districts. During interrogation, she revealed stashing away some of her ill-gotten gains at home while the rest were pledged to a bank in Kadubeesanahalli for a loan.

According to police, Revathi targeted wedding functions, closely observing women attendees wearing gold ornaments while they were engaged in rituals. She would then slip into the rooms to steal valuables before quietly slipping out of the venue.

She told the investigators that financial pressure, including her husband’s cardiac ailment, along with expenses of her son’s education and other household needs drove her to the thefts.

Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here

Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Merry Christmas wishes, messages and quotes !