A man was arrested by the Khairatabad police on Tuesday in connection with a theft case involving over 60 grams of gold ornaments in a private bus. The accused was identified as Tatapudi Tella Raja alias Raju, 48, a resident of Darsi village in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. Police subsequently recovered the 62 grams of gold ornaments from his possession.

The case came to light after complainant reported that a handbag containing around 62 grams of gold ornaments went missing while travelling on a private travels bus from Andhra Pradesh to Sangareddy district.

Investigators further found that the accused was a habitual offender with involvement in at least six property-related cases registered over the years across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from as early as 2008. Officials said he also confessed to involvement in two additional recent offences reported in LB Nagar and Saifabad police station limits.

As part of the investigation, authorities have also issued an advisory to passengers travelling long distances, urging them to exercise caution while carrying valuables such as jewellery, cash and electronic gadgets. They advised travellers to keep belongings under constant supervision, secure their luggage properly, and report any suspicious activity to bus staff or police immediately.

Transport operators have been advised to strengthen security measures, including installation of CCTV cameras, maintenance of passenger records, staff sensitisation, and periodic announcements to alert passengers about safeguarding their belongings.