HYDERABAD: A 31-year-old auto driver caught by police for committing burglary at his friend's house has shocked the investigators when he told them that he is suffering from a life-threatening disease and had unprotected sex with 300 women, including several housewives, after realizing that he was infected with the HIV virus.

The 31-year-old culprit is a resident of Mirjalguda in Malkajgiri. According to police, the auto driver had married thrice and all his wives deserted him due to his wayward habits.

Merwya Carl, a software engineer from Seven Hills Colony in Uppal , lodged a complaint with the Uppal police on October 17 alleging that burglars stole five-tola gold jewellery from his house.

On August 5, 2015, Carl and his wife left the city on some personal work and they realized about the burglary after returning home on October 17. While leaving the house, Carl gave keys of his house to a group of friends with whom he parties at home when the family members were away. The auto driver is also part of the group.

Police summoned all the friends of Carl for questioning. During interrogation, the auto driver confessed to have committed the offence. Police recovered the stolen booty of five-tola gold from his possession. When police grilled him about the other crimes committed by him, he informed them about gambling cases booked against him at the Lalaguda and Malkajgiri police stations.

"He also confessed that he has been suffering from HIV disease , which he came to know about several months ago. The auto driver also claimed he visits prostitutes daily and has illicit affairs with several other women, with whom he practiced unsafe sex even after realizing about his disease," Uppal inspector (Detective) Khaja Moinuddin said.

The culprit told police that after realizing about his disease, he had unprotected sex with over 300 women, including some housewives, whom he came in contact while taking their children to school in his auto. The culprit was remanded in judicial custody.

The Uppal police also caught a 22-year-old thief, G Mahesh, during vehicle check at Ramanthapur on Tuesday while he was travelling on a stolen bike. Based on his confession, police recovered 11 stolen bikes from his possession. The culprit committed the offences in the past year at Uppal and Nacharam areas.