Police track down gang that kidnapped financier for ransom

Police have arrested a gang of four, including a woman, who had kidnapped a 70-year-old moneylender from Yelahanka, North Bengaluru,  and extorted Rs 60 lakh as ransom.  

The gang abducted former councillor, realtor and moneylender Mallikarjuna at gunpoint on Friday morning as he entered a park near his residence for a walk.

They cramped him into a car and sped away after snatching his mobile phone and other belongings. The gang then called his son Dr Ravi Kumar and informed about Mallikarjuna's kidnapping and demanded Rs 100 crore as ransom. They also threatened Kumar of dire consequences if he contacted the police.

Kumar told the gang that he did not have such a large sum and brought down the deal to Rs 60 lakh. As instructed, he went with the money to the city outskirts, where he exchanged it for his father. Before getting home, however, he lodged a police complaint about the kidnapping incident.

Police formed a special team headed by Mohammed Humayun Nagte, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sampigehalli subdivision), and began gathering clues about the vehicle used in the kidnap.

Based on the call detail record (CDR), police caught the 30-year-old realtor, Kantharajegowda, and his associates Renuka Prasad (41), Arshiya (32) and Pradeep (27).

Police said the suspects, who were into real estate business, wanted to grab some quick money and planned the kidnap.

Last year, Kantharajegowda was arrested when he tried exchanging old banknotes near Ashok Nagar. He managed to walk free on bail. Kantharajegowda conspired with his friend Arshiya to kidnap Mallikarjuna for ransom.

Police recovered Rs 1.04 crore in cash and a pistol with live cartridges from the suspects.