Reel-life hero lands in police net

Mussanjeya Gelathi hero held for cheating

 
Fifty-year-old BP Srinivas,  producer and director, was recently arrested by City Crime Branch police for allegedly duping number of people to the tune of several lakhs of rupees.

According to the police, he had collected huge sums from public by placing advertisements in media promising loans from his Hong Kong Bank for various purposes.

“We are yet to ascertain the number of people duped by Srinivas. We also don’t know how much money is involved.  A clear picture will emerge if the victims file complaints,” said Joint Commissioner (Crime) Alok Kumar.

Srinivas, who stays on 7th cross, Annapurneshwarinagar in Nagarbhavi, started Peena World Group of Companies, Hong Kong Limited. He claimed that he was its managing director and started operations from an office in number 88, 11th main, sixth sector HSR Layout in 2006, said the police.

One LK Diwakar, the principal of Shirod Higher Secondary School, Goa, sent across a DD for Rs 12.07 lakh for getting Rs 10 crore loan to complete construction of his college building in 2006. Srinivas failed to keep up his promise.

He collected money in a similar way from several persons and closed down his office a few months later, added the police.

The Madivala police began investigations in 2009 when Diwakar filed a complaint. The police learnt that Srinivas had closed the office three years ago. Later, the case was handed over to the CCB for an inquiry, stated the police.

Srinivas has three wives - Vasantha, Jamuma and Navaneeta. While Jamuna is an an advocate, Navaneeta is an actress. He invested the cheating amount in film production. His daughter Shalini is also an actress. He purchased a high end model car using Diwakar’s money, it is learnt. Srinivas acted as a hero in a movie - ‘Mussanjeya Gelathi’ in which his daughter was the heroine.