Amongst all the criminal offences that are committed in Bengaluru, vehicle theft has been recorded as the highest on the list. In 2023 alone, 5909 cases of vehicle theft were recorded in the city, causing massive distress to the owners of these vehicles.
In a recent investigation, Bengaluru police discovered a surprising twist in the story of a notorious bike thief. Ashok, also known as Apple, was a fruit vendor who turned to stealing bikes to make quick money. He, along with his accomplice Satish, has been involved in multiple bike thefts across the city.
The police found that Ashok, a habitual offender with 15 previous cases, had recently stolen a bike from a software engineer in Giri Nagar. He had been released from jail just a month prior and was quickly caught in another crime.
During questioning, Ashok revealed an unexpected motive behind his thefts. He admitted that all the money he made from stealing bikes was used to pay for the cancer treatment of his friend’s wife. This woman, a breast cancer survivor, and her husband had given Ashok shelter after his own wife left him due to his criminal activities. Ashok saw his actions as a way to repay their kindness, reported Hindustan Times.
The revelation shocked the Bengaluru police. Ashok’s partner, Satish, was also found to be a seasoned criminal with over 40 cases against him, including murder and robbery. The police managed to recover ten stolen bikes from the duo.
This case presents a moral dilemma. Should Ashok be punished for his crimes, or forgiven for his intentions to help a friend in need? What do you think?