Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Sep 13: Policemen from Puttur rural station have arrested three persons for allegedly defrauding the general public in the name of lucky scheme with provision for weekly draw of lots under Varidhi Enterprises here. The arrested accused are Yashwant from Sootegadde in Markanja Sullia, Suresh from Ballakka House in Markanja, and Niranjan from the same village.
The police are looking for the fourth accused, Bharat from Guttigar House in Sullia, who is said to be absconding, fearing legal action.
The three accused were taken into custody by a police team led by Puttur rural police sub-inspector, Jagadish Reddy. On being produced in the court here on Friday September 12 evening, the judge remanded them to police custody till September 17.
The said firm was functioning from Havishya Complex near Santhekatte here till recently. After complaints were received that the firm had failed to either repay the money invested by its customers through weekly contributions or give them household goods as promised, the district superintendent of police had entrusted the investigation to Puttur police. The customers were lured by the offer of high returns and lucky draws which enabled them to win bumper prizes like motor bikes, scooty, gold ornaments, LCD television set etc if their name gets selected in the lucky draw scheme. In this scheme, the customers were required to pay 50 weekly installments of Rs 100 each, with the provision that those who get prize in weekly draws need not pay installments accruing thereafter.
Those who fail to get prizes in the weekly draws were promised with the offers of bicycle, mixer grinder, dining table etc. It is said out of 1,500 persons who enrolled themselves for the scheme, 700 customers have not got anything in return for the money paid by them. The pamphlet of the firm claims that Varidhi Charitable Trust was running this scheme.
The firm has branches in other places like Sullia, Puttur, and Madikeri, and it is learnt that complaints have emerged against the firm in some of these places too.