The driver, Govindaraju, 38, of Mariyappanapalya, took advantage of his passenger’s unfamiliarity with the city, age and inability to speak Kannada.
An autorickshaw driver was arrested for robbing a senior citizen of his gold jewellery, police said.
The driver, Govindaraju, 38, of Mariyappanapalya, took advantage of his passenger’s unfamiliarity with the city, age and inability to speak Kannada.
Police said Buddhadev DV, 80, of Rajajinagar was robbed on Dr Rajkumar Road on May 31. The driver was arrested last week.
The octogenarian had boarded the autorickshaw around 7 pm to return home after a visit to a City Market jeweller. Govindaraju stopped the vehicle mid-way and requested for Rs100 to buy engine oil. While Buddhadev was taking the money, the driver noticed the ornaments the man had with him.
Police said Govindaraju took the elderly man to several places instead of the destination. On reaching Subramanyapura, the driver asked him to alight and walk home. Buddhadev refused, and was again taken for a ride before reaching Dr Rajkumar Road.
The driver stopped the vehicle near an eatery and again asked the passenger to get down. This lead to a verbal duel between the two.
“The driver accused me of taking his driving licence, and said he would not let me go unless I returned it. But I had not take his licence,” Buddhadev said.
Govindaraju initially spoke Hindi, and soon switched over to Kannada. “I was alone there and did not know what to do. He then forcibly took the gold jewellery and fled,” the victim said.
Meanwhile, a few employees of the eatery were watching the drama. They thought the men were quarrelling over auto fare and did not intervene. However, when they realized Buddhadev had been robbed, they took him to the police station. One of them had noted the vehicle’s registration number, which helped in the investigation.
Police said they had recovered 78 grams of gold from the accused. Buddhadev said the jewellery belonged to his mother, and he had taken to weigh and get them polished.
Buddhadev, who had retired from a private firm in South Africa, has been living in the city alone after separating from his wife. His children were employed abroad, police added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}