Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 2: The officials of the district crime intelligence bureau (DCIB), on Tuesday March 1, succeeded in arresting three persons, who were among those accused of abducting young entrepreneur from Karkala, Leo Pereira, and placing demand for ransom for releasing him.  Leo had been abducted on March 22 last year, and had collected Rs 20 lac in cash and a golden bracelet weighing 24 grams for releasing him.

The arrested accused have been identified as Bharat alias Ravi Shetty (24) from Palli, Dharmendra alias Dhanu (26) from Kolya, and Prashant Poojary (37) from Beltangady taluk. While the first two have been identified as the prime accused, the third person had joined the gang recently, the policemen claimed. The accused were sitting near Ajjarkad Gandhi Park on Tuesday, when they were taken into custody. Reportedly, they were waiting for Ummer, accused in another case. Ummer is said to be helping the three in securing bail.

Out of the nine accused, seven had been nabbed in the past. A sum of ten lac rupees had been recovered from their possession. Now, the policemen have recovered two lac rupees in cash and the golden bracelet in question. Dharmendra, Bharat, and Prashant had placed a fresh demand of Rs 25 lac from Leo, and it is said, Leo was prepared to pay eight lac rupees to them.

DCIB inspector, Ganesh M Hegde, head constables, Damodar and Satish Ballal, and other policemen participated in the raid. The case now stands transferred to Karkala town police station.