Gold stolen from Kerala HC judge’s residence; police begin probe
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Kochi: Kochi police have registered a theft case following a complaint from Kerala High Court Judge Justice A. Badharudeen, reporting the disappearance of six sovereigns of gold from his residence.
The complaint, filed on Thursday, states that the gold was stolen from the judge’s bedroom. An FIR has been lodged under Section BNS 305. The theft, from a high-security residence in the city’s commercial hub, has raised eyebrows.
The Kalamassery police, under whose jurisdiction the judge's home falls, are leading the investigation. With preliminary inquiries underway, officers are preparing a list of individuals to be questioned in connection with the theft.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over the state’s security situation. The Congress-led UDF has criticised the government’s handling of crime, alleging a rise in lawlessness.
Reports from the home department presented to the Assembly last year reveal a steady increase in theft cases involving non-Keralite offenders—rising from 192 in 2021 to 360 in 2022 and further to 519 in 2023. As of September 2024, 307 such cases had already been recorded. Despite the surge, over 1,350 thieves have been arrested during this period, giving a boost to Kerala Police’s crime-fighting image.
Meanwhile, in response to increasing burglaries, Ernakulam Police have issued a new directive advising landlords to obtain police clearance certificates from prospective tenants, verified by their previous local police stations.
The case involving Justice Badharudeen’s residence remains a priority, with investigators facing the challenge of solving a burglary in one of the state's most secured premises.
(inputs from IANS)
