Bengaluru: In a major crackdown, Bengaluru City Police have arrested three inter-state offenders who posed as BSNL staff and carried out systematic theft and damage of telecom infrastructure across the city.
According to a press note issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Police, the accused targeted BSNL-linked electric pillars and stole 4,140 modules and 60 meters of copper cable, with the total recovered property valued at approximately ₹7 lakh.
The case came to light following a complaint filed on April 19, 2026, by a BSNL employee under the jurisdiction of Yeshwanthpur Police Station. The complaint stated that between April 17 and April 19, unknown individuals had stolen 2,160 modules and 66 meters of copper cable worth ₹2.39 lakh. Based on this, a theft case was registered and investigation initiated.
Acting on credible intelligence, police apprehended the three accused on April 19 in the Mathikere area of Yeshwanthpur. During interrogation, the accused confessed to being part of an inter-state gang that operated both during the day and night using a car. They wore uniforms and helmets resembling BSNL staff to avoid suspicion and targeted roadside telecom infrastructure in areas including Mathikere, Yeshwanthpur, Malleswaram, and Sadashivanagar.
The gang damaged iron pillars used for telephone, internet, and LAN connections before stealing valuable components. They also revealed that the stolen items were being transported to railway stations for sale, and that another accomplice is still involved in the case.
Based on their confession, police seized the stolen modules, copper cables, and the vehicle used in the crime. The accused were produced before the court on April 20, 2026, and have been remanded to judicial custody.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP North Division B.S. Nemagouda, with leadership from ACP Yeshwanthpur Sub-Division Mary Shailaja, and executed by Inspector Manjunath S. and the team of Yeshwanthpur Police Station.
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