Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Oct 23: Police have arrested a 38-year-old man for allegedly supplying mobile numbers and other information about businessmen and prominent individuals in Udupi district to underworld operative Hemanth Poojary, who allegedly extorted money from them by issuing death threats.
According to a police, a total of eight cases have been registered in connection with the alleged extortion threats — five at Padubidri police station and one each at Shirva, Kaup and Manipal police stations. The victims, primarily businessmen and prominent individuals operating in these police station limits, were allegedly contacted by Hemanth Poojary, who demanded crores of rupees and threatened to kill them if they failed to pay.
During the investigation, police arrested Suresh Amin (38), a resident of Batrathota House, Yermal Bada village in Kaup taluk. He was allegedly involved in the crime by providing Hemanth Poojary with the mobile numbers and other details of the victims.
Technical evidence reportedly revealed that Suresh Amin and Hemanth Poojary had conspired to murder one of the businessmen after he allegedly failed to pay the demanded amount and stopped answering phone calls.
Police further stated that Hemanth Poojary had sent Rs 5 lac to Suresh Amin in connection with the crime. After accounting for the amount spent, police seized the remaining Rs 4.13 lac from the accused.
The accused was produced before a court in Udupi and remanded to judicial custody. He was subsequently taken into police custody for further investigation.
Police suspect that more individuals may be involved in the case and are continuing their investigation to identify other persons connected to the alleged extortion network and conspiracy.