The Karate Black Belt Burglar Who Eluded Police for Years Finally Falls
Bengaluru, February 5, 2025 – A dreaded burglar who evaded police in multiple states was finally caught by Bengaluru cops in just 10 days, setting a new record.
Panchakshari Sangayya Swamy, 37, a second-degree karate black belt, has been involved in over 200 house burglaries across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat. Despite his long criminal career, Bengaluru turned out to be his downfall.
The Heist That Led to His Capture
On January 9, Swamy broke into a businessman’s house in Maruthi Nagar, Madiwala, and made off with Rs 12.25 lakh worth of jewellery.
Acting swiftly, Madiwala police scanned 200 CCTV cameras, tracing his movements to Maharashtra. When Bengaluru police shared his photos with their Maharashtra counterparts, he was instantly identified.
“Swamy’s criminal history was a revelation. Even the Mumbai Crime Branch was amazed that we caught him so quickly,” said an investigator.
A High-Stakes Chase Ends in Bengaluru
Police launched an eight-day manhunt across Maharashtra and Karnataka, only to find Swamy had returned to Bengaluru to commit another burglary.
On January 19, officers nabbed him at KSR Bengaluru station, marking his fastest-ever arrest.
Swamy’s Criminal Playbook
- He targeted homes with front and back doors opening onto wide roads for quick escapes.
- After burglaries, he changed clothes at multiple locations to avoid detection.
- He melted stolen gold using a firegun and moose (melting crucible) to sell it discreetly.
A Lavish Life Funded by Crime
Despite multiple jail terms, including five years in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail, Swamy led a lavish lifestyle:
- Built a Rs 3-crore house for a bar dancer girlfriend in West Bengal (2016).
- Spent Rs 22 lakh on a giant aquarium, transported by truck from Maharashtra.
- Allegedly paid Rs 15 lakh to date an actress for a day, spending Rs 6 lakh on a hotel alone.
Swamy, who is married with a child, has been disowned by his Assamese wife.
Bengaluru police are now investigating his criminal network, suspecting links to other burglaries and gold smuggling operations.
