Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (RJP)

Karkala, Apr 8: Police have arrested a cricketer from Karkala on charges of cheating a person of lacs in a property deal.

Bavuddin alias Firoz (44), a cricketer from Anchikatte near taluk office here is the arrested person. A case stands registered at Karkala town police station alleging that Bavuddin took Rs 60 lac from his relative and cheated him by not registering the promised property in his name.

Bavuddin entered into an agreement with Santosh Rao to buy a land measuring 48 cents at Kabettu near Manjunatha College. Bavuddin then showed this land as his own to distant relative K S Abdul Sattar from Mumbai. A price of Rs 60 lac was fixed for the property. Bavuddin took Rs 20 lac as advance from Abdul for the mentioned property. He called Abdul to Karkala registration office and showed him the document. Bavuddin and Abdul both signed it. Thereafter Bavuddin said that the 'registration' was over.

Abdul, who grew suspicious about the registration process, demanded clarification on the procedure of registering properties in Karnataka. Bavuddin explained that the procedure in Karnataka differs from that in Maharashtra, where they take photographs of the property. But even after three months when the properly was not transferred to Abdul, he realised that it was clearly a case of fraud.

Bavuddin, a member of Karkala XI cricket team, is known throughout undivided Dakshina Kannada district. He has a huge fan following due to his cricketing abilities. He had been to UAE for employment where he continued his cricket career. He played for UAE and toured other countries representing UAE. He worked for two companies in the UAE and in both the cases, he was recruited on the basis of his strong cricket background. He has been in Karkala for the past three years after returning from UAE.

Police on Thursday took Bavuddin to Mumbai for further investigations.