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Sumesh Rajan
21
January 2025
The Valuable Necklace That Led to Tragedy
In 2014, Uday Raj Singh, a 62-year-old retired manager of the State Bank of Mysore, was living with his wife, Susheela Singh, in Bengaluru’s Lakkasandra area. Without children, he had envisioned establishing an orphanage or a marriage hall, which he planned to fund by selling a 200-year-old uncut antique diamond necklace. The ornament was estimated to be worth ₹ 15 to 18 crore.
Two men, Madhusudhan (also known as Madhu) and Abhishek, learned about the necklace and convinced Uday that they could connect him with a potential buyer for a commission. After gaining his trust over multiple meetings, they arrived at his house on March 25, 2014, along with four others, claiming to have found an interested customer.
When Susheela brought the necklace out to show them, the group launched a violent attack. Uday was stabbed in the neck, while Susheela was also assaulted, but survived. The attackers then attempted to flee with the necklace.
Unexpected Police Presence Leads to Arrests
As the gang tried to escape, an unexpected twist changed the course of the case. A police presence in the area, deployed due to an unrelated protest, played a crucial role in capturing three of the criminals -- Satish, Dileep, and Madhusudhan. The remaining suspects were arrested within a week following further investigations.
The arrested individuals included Madhusudhan (27), from Mysuru; Satish (25), and Abhishek (27), from Srirangapatna; along with Dileep Kumar (24), Amit Kumar (23), Kiran ( 28), and Sridhar (31), all from Mysuru.
Financial Troubles Behind the Crime
Madhusudhan, an MBA graduate and former assistant manager at a private bank, had opened a financial services franchise in Mysuru. However, heavy losses pushed him into a debt of ₹ 1.2 crore. Looking for a quick way to repay the debt, he discussed his situation with his friend Abhishek, who introduced him to Uday and his valuable diamond necklace. Seeing an opportunity, they devised a plan to steal the necklace and assembled a gang to execute the crime.
Legal Proceedings and an Escape
A comprehensive chargesheet was filed by Bengaluru’s Adugodi police, supported by over 50 pieces of evidence and statements from 39 witnesses. The accused were granted conditional bail in May 2017, with instructions to attend court hearings regularly. While the others complied, Madhusudhan disappeared, leading to a non-bailable warrant being issued against him.
In June 2019, the court sentenced the remaining accused to life imprisonment under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges of murder, dacoity and criminal conspiracy. Meanwhile, Madhusudhan remained untraceable.
A Facebook Post That Led to His Capture
With no leads for years, the case had faded into the background until an unexpected visitor at the Adugodi police station in 2022 questioned why Madhusudhan was still free while the others had been convicted. Acting on this tip, investigators identified a woman believed to be his girlfriend.
Surveillance of her social media activity revealed a key clue -- a photo she had posted on Facebook from Orion Mall in Bengaluru, where Madhusudhan appeared in the background. Tracking her movements, police confirmed that she frequently travelled between Bengaluru and Nelamangala.
Based on this intelligence, a secret operation was conducted, leading to Madhusudhan’s arrest while he was dining at a roadside eatery near Nelamangala.
Life on the Run and Final Arrest
Investigations revealed that Madhusudhan had initially fled to northern India, later living in Patna and Pune under a false identity. He had acquired new documents and settled into a routine life, avoiding detection. However, his return to Bengaluru to meet his girlfriend ultimately led to his capture.
The case serves as a reminder of how digital footprints and persistent investigation efforts can help law enforcement agencies solve even long-standing criminal cases.
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