Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 16: An incident of high tech prostitution racket which was able to extract Rs 14 lac from a doctor working for a leading hospital in the city has come to light with some delay. Kadri police, who registered this case, were able to crack it and arrest the culprits after the doctor, who was duped, filed a complaint.

The police have named Narayana Salian from Someshwar, Muhammed Ranji from Ullal and Sadiq, also from Ullal, as the main accused involved with fleecing of the doctor by offering the lure of girls. At the same time, Rakesh, who lent support to the activities of the members of the racket, his two friends, and the lady who was hand in glove with the culprits in the crime, have been absconding.

A considerably senior doctor of an important hospital here knew one of the accused, Muhammed Ranji, very well since long. Ranji, who was aware of personal weaknesses of the doctor because of his prolonged proximity to him, drew up a plan to extract money from the doctor in association with his friend, Sadiq. Accordingly, Ranji talked to the doctor, duly enticing him with the offer of providing a young woman to satisfy his sexual desires. On May 2, Ranji brought the lady near Mallikatte bus stand and requested the doctor to reach this spot.

All the three then went to an outlet near Kadri to drink juice in the doctor's car. Ranjji, who remained inside the car when the doctor went away into the shop, called his friend, Sadiq, informing him that they were leaving from that spot within a short time as per a plan they had agreed upon earlier. After the group left the car and reached Mallikatte circle, a gang comprising Narayana Salian, Rakesh and his two friends intercepted the doctor's car. The gang introduced themselves as police personnel, posed certain questions, and took the car in which they had arrived, duly making the doctor seated in the back seat, towards Someshwar.

As per plan, the group took the doctor to a room, forced him to get undressed, before several snapshots of him in the company of the girl were taken. The gang then threatened the doctor to post these nude pictures in social websites and blackmailed him into paying money to them if he wanted his reputation not to be sullied.

The doctor said he did not have money on hand immediately, and agreed to make fund transfer through RTGS. After collecting the form, Ranji visited the bank where he doctor has an account. In the meanwhile, the doctor received a call from Narayana Salian, instructing the former to call the bank manager to transfer the fund, duly informing the latter that the visitors were members of his family. He did so, and Rs 14 lac was transferred to the account of the accused.

After some days, Ranji pressurized the doctor again for more money. The doctor, who was frustrated by this attitude, approached Kadri police and gave full details of the case. He also provided the registration number of the car used by the accused. A police team led by Kadri station inspector, Maruti Nayak, deceptively made the accused to reach Nanthoor-Pumpwell road. Once they came there, the main accused were arrested.

The accused were produced in the court whereupon they were remanded to judicial custody.