<p>Sirsi: Investigation into the theft of cast iron pipes under the jurisdiction of the Sirsi CMC has revealed the involvement of three CMC members and three officials, confirmed Superintendent of Police M Narayan.</p><p>Speaking to reporters at the DSP office here on Monday, the SP shared details of the ongoing investigation. The main accused, scrap contractor Sayed Zakriya from Shikaripur, was interrogated by former investigating officer P Seetharam. During questioning, Zakriya admitted to selling stolen pipes and confessed to earning Rs 7.02 lakh from the theft. The amount has been seized by the police, he said.</p><p>He further revealed that with the co-operation and permission of CMC Commissioner H Kantaraj, Assistant Executive Engineer Prashant Vernekar, Junior Engineer Sufiyan Bari, and CMC members Ganapati Nayak, Kumar Borkar, and Yashwanth Marathi, the pipes were removed and taken away. All six individuals were questioned in connection with the case.</p><p>Currently, CPI Manjunath Gowda of Sirsi Rural Police Station is continuing the investigation. It has been confirmed that Zakriya conspired with these six persons to commit the crime in February.</p><p>Since government officials and three CMC members are involved, the authorities have sought clarification from the Directorate of Municipal Administration in Bengaluru about who holds the power to suspend or remove them from service. After receiving this information, permission will be sought to initiate legal action against the government employees, he said.</p><p>So far, three JCB machines, one crane, and two lorries used in the theft have been seized. The stolen pipes were cut into pieces and sold illegally. Documents have been collected from various departments related to the case. The market value of 116 stolen pipes has been estimated at Rs 21.18 lakh, he added.</p><p><strong>Complainant turns accused!</strong></p><p>Sirsi CMC junior engineer Sufiyan Ahmad Bari had filed a complaint stating that between February 20 and 27, around 116 cast iron pipes, approximately 900 mtrs in length, part of the 8 km pipeline installed underground in 1969 from Kengre Water Supply Station to Huthgara Pumping Station, were stolen. </p><p>The complaint, filed at the Sirsi Rural Police Station, suspected that Sayed Zakriya, a scrap contractor from Shikaripur in Shivamogga district, was involved in the theft. However, during the investigation, it came to light that the complainant himself was also involved in the crime.</p>
<p>Sirsi: Investigation into the theft of cast iron pipes under the jurisdiction of the Sirsi CMC has revealed the involvement of three CMC members and three officials, confirmed Superintendent of Police M Narayan.</p><p>Speaking to reporters at the DSP office here on Monday, the SP shared details of the ongoing investigation. The main accused, scrap contractor Sayed Zakriya from Shikaripur, was interrogated by former investigating officer P Seetharam. During questioning, Zakriya admitted to selling stolen pipes and confessed to earning Rs 7.02 lakh from the theft. The amount has been seized by the police, he said.</p><p>He further revealed that with the co-operation and permission of CMC Commissioner H Kantaraj, Assistant Executive Engineer Prashant Vernekar, Junior Engineer Sufiyan Bari, and CMC members Ganapati Nayak, Kumar Borkar, and Yashwanth Marathi, the pipes were removed and taken away. All six individuals were questioned in connection with the case.</p><p>Currently, CPI Manjunath Gowda of Sirsi Rural Police Station is continuing the investigation. It has been confirmed that Zakriya conspired with these six persons to commit the crime in February.</p><p>Since government officials and three CMC members are involved, the authorities have sought clarification from the Directorate of Municipal Administration in Bengaluru about who holds the power to suspend or remove them from service. After receiving this information, permission will be sought to initiate legal action against the government employees, he said.</p><p>So far, three JCB machines, one crane, and two lorries used in the theft have been seized. The stolen pipes were cut into pieces and sold illegally. Documents have been collected from various departments related to the case. The market value of 116 stolen pipes has been estimated at Rs 21.18 lakh, he added.</p><p><strong>Complainant turns accused!</strong></p><p>Sirsi CMC junior engineer Sufiyan Ahmad Bari had filed a complaint stating that between February 20 and 27, around 116 cast iron pipes, approximately 900 mtrs in length, part of the 8 km pipeline installed underground in 1969 from Kengre Water Supply Station to Huthgara Pumping Station, were stolen. </p><p>The complaint, filed at the Sirsi Rural Police Station, suspected that Sayed Zakriya, a scrap contractor from Shikaripur in Shivamogga district, was involved in the theft. However, during the investigation, it came to light that the complainant himself was also involved in the crime.</p>
