The arrested are Muni Laxmi, Gunavathi, Shalini, Auto Vijay and Chandrappa. Two others, Guru and Shivu, are absconding.
On Tuesday, the gang allegedly kidnapped Ravi from Shankar Mutt Circle. They detained him in Guru’s house near Nandini Layout and tortured him. Ravi’s brother, who accidentally saw him being forcibly taken in a vehicle, alerted the police.
Vijay and Guru claimed to be in the business of snake venom and were scouting for prospective customers in Shimoga. They met Ravi who tipped off a tabloid journalist.
The scribe organised a sting operation on Vijay and Guru. Suspecting Ravi of being behind the sting, the gang kidnapped him in revenge.
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