Daijiworld Media Network -Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 11: Relating to an incident in which a businessman involved with onion trade was abducted in the guise of income tax officers, kept in confinement for six hours and a demand for ransom was made, the police said that four persons including Sandalwood producer, Shashikumar, were involved with the crime for them is on. Srinivasan (58) from Basaveshwara Nagar had been kidnapped from a spot falling within Mahalaxmi Layout police station in the city.

Srinivasan was moving towards RMC Yard along with driver, Armugam, in his car on September 30, when he was intercepted by people who introduced themselves as income tax officials. They had led him on the airport road. On the way he was shown some bank statements, told that he had conducted a lot of business but paid only a small amount of income tax, etc. Srinivasan reacted that if the department issues him notice seeking details, he can provide them proper reply through his advocates. The accused reportedly beat him up and offered to give the case a decent burial if he paid Rs 50 lac. Later, they reduced the demand to Rs 20 lac but Srinivasan offered to pay five lac rupees if they gave him one day's time. They had then dropped off Srinivasan near Mekhri circle before escaping. Srinivasan had thereafter filed a complaint.