18-year-old man with over 30 cases and minors among 5 arrested for extortion in Bengaluru

On December 22, 2025, a Kengeri resident complained to the police that he and his wife were threatened with a knife and robbed while travelling in an autorickshaw along the Bengaluru–Mysuru Road in the early hours, adding that the attackers had fled with Rs 1 lakh in cash and a gold ring.

What initially appeared to be a single extortion incident soon unravelled into a wider web of crime.

Acting on informant tips, the police arrested three of the accused from Ramohalli on January 3, recovering an autorickshaw, a two-wheeler and Rs 5,000 in cash. The police said the accused confessed to their involvement in several serious crimes, including murder, attempt to murder, extortion, theft, and assault, registered across Bengaluru city and rural districts.

The investigation widened further on January 5 with the apprehension of the two minors near Hegganahalli Cross. Based on their disclosures, the police recovered another autorickshaw, two two-wheelers, and silver ornaments hidden in a vacant plot at Doddagollarati.

In all, the police seized two autorickshaws, three two-wheelers, cash, and silver ornaments worth around Rs 10 lakh. The arrests helped the police detect seven cases: extortion cases in Kengeri and Mahalaxmi Layout and two-wheeler theft cases reported from the Madanayakanahalli, Peenya, Halasuru, Kamakshipalya, and Banaswadi police station limits.

While the three adult accused were remanded to judicial custody on January 8, the minors were sent to the Government Remand Home in Madiwala. A police officer said there had been a noticeable rise in the involvement of minors in recent crimes, with many turning increasingly aggressive. “We are seeing minors who have spent time in remand homes continuing to commit crimes, as they know that getting out is relatively easy and punishments are not strict,” the officer said. “It is often these youths who, after leaving remand homes, continue with criminal activities and escalate to more serious offences, as seen in cases like this.”