Hair worth over Rs 1 crore stolen from Bengaluru godown; one arrested, two in custody

Bengaluru: Police in Bengaluru have arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the theft of a large quantity of human hair worth over Rs 1 crore. The incident took place at a godown located at Laxmipura Cross in North Bengaluru on the night of 28 February.

The arrested individual, identified as Yellappa, a resident of Laxmipura, allegedly broke into the godown along with accomplices and stole around 830 kilograms of hair. The facility is owned by K Venkataswamy, a hair wholesaler who exports the product internationally.

According to the police, Yellappa and his associates were aware that the godown stored valuable hair consignments. They carried out the heist by forcibly breaking into the premises and stealing the entire stock.

Following the theft, the group reportedly attempted to sell the stolen hair to agents in Hyderabad. Law enforcement officers were able to track them down during the sale attempt, leading to Yellappa’s arrest. Two other suspects have been taken into custody for questioning.

Police investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the operation and whether more individuals were involved.

The stolen hair is believed to be high-quality temple hair, which is in high demand in global markets, especially in countries like the US, China, and Europe. Human hair collected from Indian temples is often used to make wigs, hair extensions, and other beauty products. Virgin hair — that is, unprocessed hair that hasn’t been dyed or chemically treated — can fetch a very high price due to its strength, texture, and natural shine. India is one of the world’s largest exporters of such hair, making consignments like this highly valuable and often targeted for theft.