By Express News Service

BENGALURU: In a case with a shocking twist, the city police arrested a chain snatcher only to discover during his interrogation that he was working as a contractual health inspector with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The accused would snatch chains in order to fund a film that he was directing.

The accused, Rangappa (35) alias Prathap Rangu, was nabbed by Basaveshwar Nagar police on October 28 while he was attempting another robbery. Police said a total of 430 grams gold chains worth Rs 12 lakh were recovered from him. He is a resident of Mahalakshmi Layout near Ashokapuram.

According to the police, Rangappa had snatched chains of women from the areas of Nandini Layout, Soladevanahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Puttenahalli for at least 7-8 months. A total of 10 cases were lodged against him in different police stations. To nab him, several police teams were formed under DCP (West) M N Anucheth and ACP (Vijaynagar) Parmeshwar Hegde.

Among these, the team formed by the staff of Basaveshwara Nagar under inspector Somashekar G succeeded in catching Rangappa red-handed.

A police official said Rangappa was caught as the police had prior information of his attempted theft through their informants. Describing his modus operandi, Inspector Somashekar said Rangappa would enter homes when only female members were at home, and then snatch their chains. He would also snatch chains from women who were sitting beside windows by putting his hand through the window.

In addition to snatching chains and directing a film, Rangappa was also working as a health inspector on a contract basis in the Cottonpete ward (ward no. 120) of the BBMP. His upcoming film was titled ‘Double Meaning,’ and a promo of the film is available on Youtube, which was uploaded on September 14 this year and has already racked up 1.3 million views. Rangappa is mentioned as both the director and producer of the film in the video’s description, and was carrying out the robberies to fund the film, police said.