Engineering student held for multiple burglaries targeting secretariats

An engineering student allegedly addicted to online betting was arrested by Chittoor district police in connection with a series of burglaries targeting government secretariats across three districts. Police recovered electronic equipment worth over ₹8 lakh from his possession.

The accused has been identified as C. Mahesh Babu (22), a native of Kanyakapuram village in Sriranga Raja Puram mandal, currently residing in Tirupati. He was arrested during vehicle checks near Matam Cross on the Chittoor-Tirupati highway on Sunday morning after police found him carrying a printer under suspicious circumstances.

The police said that during interrogation, Mahesh Babu allegedly confessed to committing thefts in government secretariats across Chittoor, Tirupati, and Annamayya districts. The police officials said that the accused used a cutter to break open office doors and stole printers, laptops, and other electronic devices.

Police recovered 30 printers valued at ₹6.5 lakh, three laptops worth ₹1.59 lakh, a motorcycle, and some tools used for committing the crimes.

The police said that the accused reportedly sold the stolen items through online platforms and spent the money on online betting and was allegedly leading a lavish lifestyle.