Man held for staging mugging, pocketing Rs 10 lakh

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: The Chamarajpet police arrested a shoe shop owner for “staging a drama” and allegedly swindling Rs 10 lakh from a businessman in the city.

On January 17, News Trail had reported about a person, Mularam, 32, being robbed of Rs 10 lakh in cash by a gang of assailants posing as cops from the Central Crime Branch (CCB). It was revealed that Ramesh, a businessman in Chamarajpet, had lent money to some traders to invest in their businesses a few weeks ago.

On January 13, when the traders wanted to return the money, Ramesh had asked Mularam to collect the cash. However, the money was not delivered to Ramesh as Mularam claimed he was attacked and robbed by a gang near Sirsi Circle while he was on the way to deliver the cash around 7.45 pm.

A complaint had been filed at the Chamarajpet Police Station regarding the incident and during inquiry the police noticed that Mularam had fresh cut injuries on his hands, which he claimed were inflicted by the attackers. Speaking to News Trail, Chamarajpet police said that the investigative team of cops had expressed suspicion over Mularam's story. To connect the dots, they began a probe that led to the unfolding of the drama.

Mularam, a native of Rajasthan had been staying in Cottonpet and was working in a shoe shop at PA Lane of Sultanpet in the city. It was revealed that he was debtridden, and in desperate need of money, he plotted to cheat the businessman of Rs 10 lakh. During interrogation, he is said to have confessed to the crime.

"After he collected the cash from the traders, the accused took the cash and hid it in his godown. He then threw the empty bag near Sirsi Circle and cut his hands with a razor blade to authenticate his story," sources from the police department added. Police recovered the cash and seized Mularam's twowheeler. He was produced at a court here. Further investigation is on.