Thieves loot Rs 3 lakh, splurge on PUBG and gaming addictions

BALASORE: A robbery in Odisha took an unusual turn when the culprits used a portion of the stolen Rs 3.05 lakh from a medical shop to fund their online gaming obsession, specifically PUBG.

The incident happened on December 18 in the Nialibag area under the jurisdiction of Sahadevkhunta police. The thieves gained access to the medical shop owned by Siddhartha Sarathi Das by breaking through the skylight. Following a detailed investigation, police apprehended two individuals involved in the theft.

During interrogation, the accused admitted to spending approximately Rs 30,000 on online gaming and leisure activities. Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said, “The accused deposited Rs 2,58,000 in a Canara Bank account, lent Rs 5,000 to an acquaintance, and squandered ₹30,000 on PUBG. We have recovered Rs 2,63,760, a foreign currency note, four mobile phones, a motorcycle, and other incriminating items.”

The crime came to light after the shop owner lodged a complaint, prompting the police to launch a thorough probe. The investigation unearthed a trail of activities showing how the stolen money was used recklessly.

(with agency inputs)