Theft: Dental College clerk imprisoned

The judge G S Revankar, found Ramesh (33), guilty of the offence and convicted him. In default of payment, Ramesh will have to undergo SI for one month. Before moving to the Dental College, Ramesh was serving as a cashier at the Kempegowda Hospital. He was in financial crunch as he was addicted to gambling. He decided to lift cash from the cash box at the hospital and repay back the loans he owed to the money lenders.

On August 9, 2001, he went to the hospital and managed to engage Nijalinga, the then cashier and Manjappa, the then telephone exchange in-charge, into a conversation. He took both of them to a nearby hotel for coffee. While drinking the coffee, Ramesh left the hotel saying he had some urgent work. He came to the cash counter and lifted Rs 36,485 using a duplicate key. Later, he paid back 15,000 to the money lenders and kept the remaining amount in the blood bank laboratory.

Nijalinga and Manjappa were shocked to see the cash missing when they returned and informed the hospital administrative officer who lodged a complaint with the police.

Ramesh spilled the beans when the police secured him for questioning. The police recovered the cash he had hid in the laboratory.