Impostor held for hotel currency thefts

The High Grounds Police have arrested a 57-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh for impersonating a guest at prestigious hotels and stealing foreign currency during corporate events and international conferences.

The accused, identified as Chintakindi Srinivasulu, was caught after he allegedly attended a private company’s annual meeting at Shangri-La Hotel on June 23, posing as an invited guest. During the event, he stole foreign currency from a guest’s unattended bag and fled the venue. Based on a complaint filed by the hotel staff, a case was registered at High Grounds Police Station. A similar incident was also reported at a venue under the jurisdiction of the Sadashivanagar Police Station.

According to Bengaluru Central Division DCP Akshay Hak Machindra, Srinivasulu kept track of international events through newspapers and media announcements. He would then disguise himself as a guest and enter such gatherings unnoticed. Taking advantage of moments when attendees left their belongings unattended, he would steal foreign currency, believing it would fetch higher value.

The police tracked him using CCTV footage and other surveillance evidence. Upon his arrest, they recovered 270 US dollars, 2,900 Taiwanese dollars, 200 Australian dollars, and 10,000 Laotian kip from his possession. Officials said Srinivasulu had been targeting high-profile conferences and workshops for some time and operated with precision. His arrest has brought relief to event organizers and hotel staff, who had been concerned over repeated incidents of theft during international events. Further investigation is underway to determine if he is linked to other thefts.