Gun Misfires, Phone Dropped: Samosa Shop Owner’s Heist Solved In Bengaluru

Last Updated:February 10, 2026, 12:10 IST

During the escape, Anoop Ram accidentally dropped his mobile phone on the pavement outside the shop. That single object became the loudest clue.

In the busy industrial area of Makali on Bengaluru’s outskirts, Ankit Nath blended in easily. To most people, he was just the local samosa vendor, the guy behind the oil and the evening snack rush. But behind that ordinary routine, police say Nath was quietly obsessed with a shortcut to wealth. By February 2026, that obsession had turned into a crime plan built on scouting, contacts, and a weapon.

Investigators say the robbery that played out on January 27 did not happen on impulse. It was planned for nearly 1 month. Nath allegedly spent that time scouting jewellery shops in Dasanapura area, studying which stores looked vulnerable and when they would be easiest to hit.

Once the target was locked, Nath began assembling people for the job. He contacted Anoop Singh, a cloth merchant based in Kothanur. He also pulled in a link from Rajasthan, Ravi Rao, a man based in Jodhpur.

The Rajasthan crew arrives, with an illegal pistol

At Nath’s request, police say Ravi Rao travelled to Bengaluru with a team of boys. The group included Anoop Ram and Arun, along with one more accomplice. They also brought a pistol that was allegedly bought illegally in Rajasthan for Rs 1 lakh.

This was not a random weapon pickup. Police say it was part of the preparation. The gun, its cost, and the fact it travelled across states became a key thread in the investigation later.

After arriving in Bengaluru, the group is said to have stayed at Ankit Nath’s house. This is where they allegedly planned out what police described as their Saffron Colony strategy, ironing out how they would enter, threaten, collect valuables fast, and exit before help arrived.

January 27 evening: Ramdev Jewellers hit as masked customers

On the evening of January 27, the gang targeted Ramdev Jewellers on Dasanapura Main Road. According to the investigation, the masked men entered pretending to be customers, a simple move meant to avoid raising suspicion.

Inside, they found only 2 minors in the shop, the owner’s children, who were managing the place at that moment. That detail turned the robbery into something far more chilling.

Police say the robbers pulled out the pistol and demanded gold and cash. During the confrontation, Ravi Rao allegedly aimed the weapon at one of the boys and pulled the trigger.

But in a twist that likely saved a life, the pistol jammed. The shot did not fire. Even with the gun malfunctioning, the group did not leave empty handed.

What they got: Rs 50,000 cash and 9.1 grams gold

Despite the jam, the robbers allegedly grabbed Rs 50,000 in cash and around 9.1 grams of gold ornaments. Then they fled the scene on a motorbike, trying to disappear before police arrived.

This is where the so called perfect plan collapsed. During the escape, Anoop Ram accidentally dropped his mobile phone on the pavement outside the shop. That single object became the loudest clue.

Madanayakanahalli police recovered the phone and launched a technical investigation. Using clues from the device, including call logs and location data, they traced the network behind the robbery. Their first major catch was Ravi Rao.

Interrogation breaks the chain, names the mastermind

Once intercepted, Ravi Rao was questioned, and police say he spilled the beans, laying out the involvement of Ankit Nath and the rest of the crew, including the Rajasthan based members and the Bengaluru contacts. That statement widened the net quickly.

Police arrested 5 suspects in the case:

1. Ankit Nath
2. Anoop Singh
3. Ravi Rao
4. Anoop Ram
5. Arun

Authorities also recovered the pistol worth Rs 1 lakh, along with 2 live bullets, 3 magazines, and the stolen jewellery. But the case is not fully closed. Police are still searching for the 6th accomplice who was part of the team that came with Rao.

The modern lesson Bengaluru keeps learning the hard way

This case is a reminder that crime today is not just about masks and motorbikes. It is also about data trails. A plan built for 1 month collapsed in seconds because 1 phone slipped from a pocket.

And for a gang that wanted an overnight millionaire story, what they got instead was a custody file and a missing accomplice still on the run.

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