HUBBALLI: Nagappa Hadapad nursed a secret desire: To drive a police jeep. On Monday morning, the 45-year-old drove off with a police jeep parked outside Annigeri police station. Twenty-four hours later, Nagappa Hadapad was caught near Byadagi when he was napping in the vehicle.
L K Julakatti, sub-inspector, Annigeri, said when they realised the police jeep parked in front of their station was missing, they scanned CCTV footage and saw the accused driving off with the vehicle. A hunt was soon launched for the accused.
On Tuesday morning near Bydagi, about 50km from Annigeri, passersby tipped off cops that a person in a police jeep was behaving in a suspicious manner. Bydagi police arrested the accused and seized the jeep.
"He was sleeping in the jeep when we caught him. During investigation, Nagappa told us he had been hanging around the police station for a few days and closely observing the usage of the jeep which he wanted to drive," said Julakatti. Nagappa told police he drove around and had no plan in mind as to how he intended to return the vehicle to the police station. "My long-cherished wish to drive a police jeep has been fulfilled, and I meant no harm to anyone," he told police.
A complaint has been lodged at Annigeri police station.
