Using stolen phone led cops on their trail

Harish (31), the third member of the gang, led the police to them.  

During their earlier incarceration, Raghu and Doddayya had roped in Harish, a social studies teacher, impressed by his fluency in English and a couple of other languages. They reckoned he would help them strike up conversations with their prey.  

The seniors had instructed Harish not to use any electronic gadgets belonging to their victims, but he pocketed a phone they had robbed from a woman and began using it on the sly.  On the basis of the woman's complaint, police tracked down the phone and picked up Harish. During the interrogation, he blurted out the names of Raghu and Doddayya.  

Kantharaju, ACP (Banashankari subdivision), told DH  that Raghu had changed the number plate of his SUV in Tumakuru, claiming he was on security duty for BJP national president Amit Shah during his recent visit. "The registration number of his Bolero was that of a vehicle with the Social Welfare Department," Kantharaju added.