Kukatpally police with the three accused women on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: By Arrangement
Three women were arrested by the Kukatpally police on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, for stealing handbags from shoppers in crowded vegetable markets.
The accused were identified as Bandari Shalini, 34, Gamboo Maheshwari, 43, and Uppu Saritha, 38, residents of Fatehnagar and Sanathnagar.
According to the police, the case came to light after Lopetti Nagamani, a resident of Pragatinagar in Moosapet, reported the theft of her handbag while buying vegetables at a local market on January 13. She later lodged a complaint on January 17, stating that the bag contained ₹40,000 in cash.
Following the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. On Tuesday morning, the accused were apprehended near the Kukatpally Y-junction after they were found loitering in a suspicious manner.
Police said that the trio targeted crowded places and weekly markets to commit thefts. An amount of ₹1,500 in cash was recovered from them. The police have advised women visiting busy markets, fairs and malls to remain vigilant about their belongings.
Published – February 03, 2026 08:23 pm IST
