Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jul 22: The police have succeeded in cracking a case in which a person from the city who deals in shares was kidnapped and robbed, within three days. Three accused have been arrested in this case.
Ashok Kumar S, a native of Tumakuru district, had been abducted by the accused. He was robbed and an attempt to swindle money from his bank account was made. The arrested accused happen to be Santosh Bovi, Anil Poojary and Mani alias Manikanta Kharvi. They were arrested from near Katapady junction. All the three are said to be members of Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV). A pistol, Rs 1.35 lac in cash, and a mobile phone were recovered from their possession. The trio will be produced in court on July 23.
Ashok Kumar (25) along with two others, had set up shares business in Vadiraja comlplex here. The firm was involved with transactions which went up to Rs 50 lac. On July 16 afternoon, Santosh visited Ashok in his office, and took him in a gray Innova car in the guise of having discussions on business proposals. When the car reached Ajjarkad, four others boarded the car and together covered Ashok's face with a mask. They took Ashok to a resort near the sea and kept him there all through the night. They flashed their pistol and sabre at him and posed death threat. They snatched away two lac rupees cash which Ashok had, apart from two mobile phones and a wrist watch. They demanded ransom of Rs 70 lac, it is said. He was assaulted during his confinement.
On July 17 morning, the miscreants took Ashok Kumar in the car from the resort to a bank to withdraw ten lac rupees from his account. One of the accused entered the bank along with Ashok and others waited outside. Ashok upon entering the bank, suddenly rushed towards the manager's table and shouted that he was a victim of robbery, at which the man accompanying him rushed out, entered the car and sped away.
Three special teams had been formed to nab the culprits. The car used by the robbers was found in the parking area of Mannapalla pond, Manipal on July 18. When the car owner was contacted, the police came to know that the car was hired by people who committed the robbery. On the basis of information so obtained, the accused were found and arrested, the police said.
The three involved face cases in Karkala rural and Subrahmanya police stations. The police are hunting for others involved with the act.