Kidnap and extortion of friend: 7 accused arrested

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

Koramangala police have arrested seven people, including a young woman, on charges of kidnapping and extorting an old friend. The accused Monika, Harish, Harikrishna, Rajkumar, Naresh, Anjanil and Narasimha allegedly abducted and extorted Potula Shiva from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. City South-East Division DCP Sara Fatima stated that Shiva, who runs a medical shop in Andhra Pradesh, was lured by Monika, a distant relative and friend for four years, to meet her in Penukonda on 17 November. The accused then assaulted Shiva, took him to Pavagada, and held him in a hotel for three days.

They forcibly took his gold chain and bracelet, pawned them and obtained money. They later coerced him into transferring ?5 lakh, but as Shiva had left his debit and credit cards at home, the accused called his family and retrieved the cards from his house in Bengaluru. On 21 November, three of the accused brought Shiva to an ATM near Forum Mall Junction in Koramangala to withdraw money. During this, two accused began quarrelling over sharing the money.

The police, who were patrolling nearby, grew suspicious, intervened and arrested them. Upon interrogation, the police uncovered the kidnapping and extortion plot. A case was registered, and all seven accused, including those in Pavagada, were arrested. Investigations revealed that Monika and her partner, Anjanil, masterminded the crime. DCP Fatima disclosed that more than 15 cases had been filed against one of the accused.