Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady

Beltangady, Sep 8: A key suspect in a financial fraud case involving the Belalu Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Society has been arrested by Dharmasthala police, after having been on the run since the complaint was filed.

The accused, identified as Sadashiva alias Sujith, a former employee of the society, was tracked down and apprehended in Padil, Mangaluru, on September 5, by a team led by sub-inspector Samarth R Ganiger, acting on a tip-off. He was produced before the Beltangady court on September 6 and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody.

Meanwhile, another accused in the case—Prashanth, also a former employee—remains absconding.

Sadashiva alias Sujith had earlier served as a staff member at the same co-operative society, while his brother, Prakash, a resident of Belalu, had deposited Rs 10 lac for a period of three years.

Using this fixed deposit as collateral, Prakash had also taken a loan of Rs 3.5 lac. However, on April 28, 2025, he filed a false complaint accusing the chief executive officer (CEO) of financial misconduct and demanded that the entire deposit amount, along with interest, be refunded.

Despite the CEO explaining the facts of the matter, Prakash is alleged to have resorted to abusive language, threatened staff, and repeatedly intimidated employees at the society’s office.

According to the complaint, Prakash ‘ignored factual clarifications, used vulgar language, and continued to harass the staff and CEO with repeated threats’.

The society’s president, Padma Gowda, formally filed a complaint at the Dharmasthala police station, highlighting the threats, verbal abuse, and harassment faced by staff due to the malicious allegations made by Prakash.