Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP/SP)
Udupi, Apr 4: In a swift operation, the Shirva police on Thursday April 3 nabbed a person in connection to extortion calls made to a granite businessman by posing death threats.
The accused arrested has been identified as Saleem alias Manchi Saleem (33), from Alevoor in the town. He was arrested when he had come to collect money from Madhava Kamath from Bantakal, who deals in granite.
Kamath said he had received several threat calls from Santosh Poojary and Nagaraja Balegar, who are lodged in the district jail at Hiriadka relating to a murder attempt case, between March 26 and April 2. They repeatedly pestered Kamath to pay them protection money of two lac rupees, failing which they threatened to kill him. They said they required this money to get released from jail. Kamath filed a complaint in this respect in Shirva police station on April 2.
As per a plan prepared by Kaup police circle inspector, Sunil Nayak, and Shirva station house officer, Ashok, Kamath was asked to invite the extortionists to collect money as demanded by them. On behalf of the above persons, Saleem arrived at the appointed place to collect money. The police rounded him up and took him into custody. Verification of the cell phone records in his possession revealed that he was a friend of Santosh Poojary. Saleem said he was sent by Santosh to collect money.
He was later produced in the court.