Burglar tied to 150+ thefts across 4 states gifts Rs 3 crore house to girlfriend

Tea shop owner Panchakshari Sangayya Swamy brewed a criminal record as strong as his tea - linked to 150-200 house break-ins across four states and claims of gifting his girlfriend a Rs 3 crore bungalow.

But his luck ran out in Bengaluru, where he was arrested for a house break-in last week, fleeing with 400 grams of gold and silver. His accomplice from UP remains absconding, and police have launched a manhunt. Cops recovered 180 grams of gold and 150 grams of silver from Swamy, who claimed the rest was with his partner.

A divorcee living with his govt employee mother in Solapur, Swamy operated in Rajasthan, Telangana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra before his Bengaluru arrest. Mumbai police, who arrested him several times, confirmed his extravagant gifts and links with struggling Bollywood starlets.

Swamy was jailed in Gujarat in 2016 but resumed crimes post-release. He last stole in Bengaluru in 2010 but returned this year on his partner's suggestion, police said. Police sources quoted Swamy as saying this was his first visit to Bengaluru in recent years.