HUBBALLI, Karnataka– In a bizarre case that unsettled local residents, police in Hubballi arrested a man accused of repeatedly stealing women’s undergarments from homes in the Bendigeri police station limits.
According to investigators, the suspect confessed to taking lingerie left out to dry on clotheslines and balconies at night. He was identified as Karthik, a resident of Tanthi Nagar and an employee at a sound system shop.
Police said Karthik admitted to keeping the stolen items for about a week before throwing them back into the residential compounds. For weeks, women in the Veerapura Oni neighborhood had reported undergarments missing, initially believing the garments had been blown away by strong winds.
As the thefts became more frequent, suspicions grew. Residents reviewed CCTV footage, which showed the suspect climbing into balconies and terraces to steal the lingerie, confirming fears that the disappearances were deliberate.
The incidents alarmed women in the community, some comparing the behavior to that of convicted serial killer Umesh Reddy, who was notorious in the 1990s for crimes involving women’s clothing.
Police noted that Karthik had studied up to the 10th grade and displayed disturbing, fetish-driven behavior. He exclusively targeted lingerie, concealing the items in his pockets during the thefts.
Following multiple complaints, authorities moved quickly to apprehend him. Further investigation into the case is underway. (Source: IANS)
