Bengaluru: Chartered accountant’s driver flees with Rs 1.5 crore, arrested

Bengaluru: A 45-year-old car driver has been arrested for allegedly decamping with over Rs 1.5 crore in cash that was meant to be deposited in a bank on behalf of his employer, a chartered accountant based in Vyalikaval, near Malleswaram.The accused, Rajesh B, had been employed by the complainant, Totaprasad, for nearly a decade. According to police, the stolen amount comprised tax collections from several of Totaprasad's clients.In his complaint, Totaprasad stated that the incident occurred on May 5 afternoon. "Around 3pm, I handed the cash bag to Rajesh, saying we should go to the bank. He nodded and went near the car. After some time, when I went to the car, I saw him missing," the complaint read.Totaprasad said he initially managed to contact Rajesh by phone, who claimed he had gone to a nearby medical shop and would return shortly. "After 30 minutes, I called him again, but his mobile was switched off," he added.City police traced Rajesh to a hideout in the city and recovered Rs 1.2 crore from his residence in Kodandaramapura. During questioning, Rajesh reportedly told the police that he had used Rs 3 lakh to repay debts.Police said Rajesh had no prior criminal record and described the act as one of opportunism rather than part of an organised plan. "He had seen the same money on previous occasions, but never thought of running away with it. This time, he failed to overcome greed," a senior officer said.Cases of theft by domestic help on rise in KarnatakaThe case comes amid a string of thefts, involving domestic workers in the city. Just last week, Bengaluru police arrested three women in unrelated incidents of servant theft and recovered stolen property, including 250 grams of gold and Rs 3 lakh in cash. All three had been working in the targeted homes for only a few months, police said.Servant theft remains a persistent concern in Karnataka with police data showing 675 such cases between Jan 2024 and March 2025. Of these, 85% were reported from cities such as Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Mysuru. "On average, 45 such cases are reported every month in the state," an officer said.