JOIN USA package tour organiser was on Tuesday thrashed by irate passengers, for cheating before being handed over to the Kengeri police.
Vishakanthaiah, owner of Mallikarjuna Travels in Kengeri Satellite Town, and Umapathy, who operates a tempo traveller, were taken into custody following complaints against them.
Veeshakanthaiah had announced a 11-day package tour to Bijapur, Mumbai, Shirdi, Goa and Shimoga and surrounding areas. A total of 37 passengers, including 18 women, from Laggere had booked seats. Veeshakanthaiah collected Rs 11,000 from each, police said. The bus left Bangalore on August 16 and Umapathy and his eight relatives followed in a tempo traveller.
Extra Rs 25,000
“The bus driver did not have money to refuel. We collected Rs 25,000 for it,” Ganga Hanumaiah, a traveller, stated in his complaint. When the bus reached Goa border late third day, the driver did not have money to pay inter-state permit fees. The travellers had to spend the night in the forest. Umapathy paid Rs 9,000 and returned to Bangalore while the bus entered Goa.
Bus missing
“In Goa, we had to make our own accommodation. We were shocked to find the bus missing next day. When contacted, Veeshakanthaiah requested us to send our relatives to his office and gave a cheque for Rs 20,000, which, when tendered in the bank, bounced,” he alleged.
Some family members of fellow travellers pledged their ornaments to return to Bangalore by other private buses.
Some had tough time in Goa as they had kept their baggages in Umpathy’s tempo who returned to Bangalore with it.