Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Apr 26: In connection with the arrest of three women at Goa border found carrying huge amount of banned currency notes in the demominations of Rs 1,000 and 500, a person named Vani Prabhu from Mundgod in Uttara Kannada district is emerging as the main accused. More details of her activities are coming out with a number of persons filing complaints against Vani.

Over 40 persons filed complaints with the district deputy commissioner and superintendent of police on Tuesday, alleging that they had been cheated by Vani to the extent of Rs 1.36 crore. They have sought justice from these officials.

During the period they were conducting a mock exercise at the check post at Goa border, police had found banned currency notes worth Rs 1.34 crore in the possession of three women on April 22. The women were arrested, and during their questioning, they had said that the money belonged to Vani Prabhu, wife of a medical practitioner at Mundgod, Dr Prabhu.

After the information spread through the media, 49 persons have come into the open and accused Vani Prabhu of collecting lacs of rupees from them in 2013 by promising to procure government employment. One of the complainants, Swapnel Pednekar from the town, said that Vani had told him that she knew persons in strategic positions in health department and that she would be able to bag a government job for him. He accused Vani of doling out this promise to 49 persons, and collecting between two and four lac rupees from each of them. He says that the people were cheated as they lost money and did not get any employment, and that a police case has been filed.

The three women who were caught with the cache were remanded by the court to judicial custody till May 5. Vani Prabhu has been given judicial custody till May 6. In the meanwhile, as she complained of ill health, Vani was admitted into the district hospital for treatment.