Gold & Cash Stolen from Karnataka Minister’s Office: Arrest

February 10, 2026

A shocking theft at the Karnataka Secretariat has raised serious security concerns after a bag containing gold jewellery and cash was stolen from the office of Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The incident was reported when the bag’s owner a visitor on official business returned to collect it and found it missing.

 Valuables Stolen & How It Happened

According to police, the bag reportedly contained about 300 grams of gold jewellery and approximately ₹1.5 lakh in cash. The owner, identified as Naveen, had left it inside the minister’s chamber after an official visit and only realised it was missing the next day, triggering alarm over a major security lapse within the state government complex.

 CCTV Footage Leads to Arrest

Investigation teams reviewed CCTV footage from inside the Secretariat, which showed a contracted Secretariat employee from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) carrying the handbag away from the minister’s office. Police traced and arrested the DPAR “D‑Group” employee, believed to be responsible for the theft.

 Security Lapses Under Scrutiny

The incident has triggered questions about security checks at one of Karnataka’s most secured government buildings. Observers and officials have raised concerns about how such high‑value items could be taken inside and removed without detection by metal detectors or security personnel prompting calls for stricter screening and monitoring at entry points.

 Ongoing Investigation

Police have registered a case and are continuing their probe. Investigators are examining whether standard security protocols were bypassed and if there are any larger lapses in the Secretariat’s screening system that allowed the theft to occur despite heavy policing and restricted access.