Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 20: Swaroop Shetty (23) who has been arrested in connection with cases of fraud reportedly earned the faith of his close ones by showing to them his passbook which showed balance of over Rs 1.8 crore. Moreover, he spent money lavishly and paid hotel bills running into lacs of rupees. He allegedly has his own flat and had recently incurred a bill of over Rs 4.5 lac by staying in a hotel at Manipal for a few days, it is gathered.
It is said that he also used to trap his friends by telling them that on account of malicious propaganda engaged in by them about his bike dealings, he had suffered losses and his Nitte branch of bike renting unit was closed as a result. He also brought pressure on them by saying that the police will soon register cases and arrest them. He emotionally controlled his friends and also claimed that he knows high and mighty top police brass. He also used names of police officers and mentioned name of a particular underworld element, it is gathered.
Swaroop Shetty
Swaroop always looked for weaknesses in people and played on them. He used this information to blackmail them. Information about relationships was also used by him for his benefit through blackmail. He also got information about financial background of friends and got family members involved with fraudulent dealings. In many cases he had collected money from the parents of the friends in their presence. After collecting information about bank balance of a lady, he had succeeded in pestering her son to part with that money, it is learnt.
In one such incident, Swaroop reportedly collected money from a youth with the promise of getting him laptop. He not only failed to repay the money, but also succeeded in threatening the youth on various occasions, collecting additional amounts every time. Although he had kept several families under his tight leash, none of them came forward to file police complaint. His deeds began to tumble out after the family of a girl complained to the police, it is gathered.
The young men who were cheated by him and their parents have sought justice and protection from the district superintendent of police here. He is currently under three days of police custody beginning from August 19.