<p>Bengaluru: The state government has granted sanction for arresting 26-year-old history-sheeter Manoj R alias Kencha under the Goonda Act, which mandates one-year imprisonment without bail. </p>.<p>The stringent measure came after Manoj allegedly made an extortion call to a woman from inside the Parappana Agrahara prison recently. </p>.<p>Police investigations show that Manoj, a resident of Hosaguddadahalli, tried to blackmail the woman with her daughters' morphed pictures. </p>.CID busts multi-crore land grab syndicate that extorted crores by hoodwinking courts.<p>According to the woman, Manoj himself called her from the prison and demanded money. </p>.<p>Taking serious note of her allegation, the CCB raided the prison, but did not find any mobile phone or other device on Manoj. </p>.<p>However, a subsequent police investigation showed that the phone call originated from a 500-metre radius of the prison. Police believe Manoj likely used voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) to make the call. </p>.<p>Police say Manoj has been actively involved in extortion, criminal intimidation, robbery, abduction, attempted murder and murder since 2016. He was first booked in a criminal case as a minor and has since been booked in at least 12 serious crimes. </p>.<p>Police officers investigating cases related to Manoj described him as a "brazen and incorrigible criminal" aided by a gang of trusted associates. </p>.<p>"He became so notorious that people started fearing him and were reluctant to even file complaints against him," a police officer told <em>DH</em>. </p>.<p>Manoj’s operations were so organised that he gave orders from inside the prison, which his associates followed, according to the police. </p>.<p>On June 13, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda issued an order to invoke the Goonda Act against Manoj, but the matter was referred to the competent authority for review.</p>.<p>A magisterial-level advisory committee subsequently submitted a report endorsing the invocation of the Goonda Act against Manoj. </p>.<p>On July 29, <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span> reported how the Bengaluru police were increasingly invoking the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA), which mandates five-year imprisonment without bail, to curb rowdyism. </p>.<p>However, public prosecutors believe the Goonda Act will prove effective in reining in rowdies like Manoj because it can be invoked easier than KCOCA. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The state government has granted sanction for arresting 26-year-old history-sheeter Manoj R alias Kencha under the Goonda Act, which mandates one-year imprisonment without bail. </p>.<p>The stringent measure came after Manoj allegedly made an extortion call to a woman from inside the Parappana Agrahara prison recently. </p>.<p>Police investigations show that Manoj, a resident of Hosaguddadahalli, tried to blackmail the woman with her daughters' morphed pictures. </p>.CID busts multi-crore land grab syndicate that extorted crores by hoodwinking courts.<p>According to the woman, Manoj himself called her from the prison and demanded money. </p>.<p>Taking serious note of her allegation, the CCB raided the prison, but did not find any mobile phone or other device on Manoj. </p>.<p>However, a subsequent police investigation showed that the phone call originated from a 500-metre radius of the prison. Police believe Manoj likely used voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) to make the call. </p>.<p>Police say Manoj has been actively involved in extortion, criminal intimidation, robbery, abduction, attempted murder and murder since 2016. He was first booked in a criminal case as a minor and has since been booked in at least 12 serious crimes. </p>.<p>Police officers investigating cases related to Manoj described him as a "brazen and incorrigible criminal" aided by a gang of trusted associates. </p>.<p>"He became so notorious that people started fearing him and were reluctant to even file complaints against him," a police officer told <em>DH</em>. </p>.<p>Manoj’s operations were so organised that he gave orders from inside the prison, which his associates followed, according to the police. </p>.<p>On June 13, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda issued an order to invoke the Goonda Act against Manoj, but the matter was referred to the competent authority for review.</p>.<p>A magisterial-level advisory committee subsequently submitted a report endorsing the invocation of the Goonda Act against Manoj. </p>.<p>On July 29, <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span> reported how the Bengaluru police were increasingly invoking the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA), which mandates five-year imprisonment without bail, to curb rowdyism. </p>.<p>However, public prosecutors believe the Goonda Act will prove effective in reining in rowdies like Manoj because it can be invoked easier than KCOCA. </p>