Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (RJP)
Bengaluru, Jul 18: The Criminal Investigation department (CID) which is probing the DySP Kallappa Handibag suicide case has discovered hitherto unknown facts about the Bajrang Dal leader Praveen Khandya.
VHP leader Praveen Khandya is the main accused in the kidnapping and ransom taking case which ultimately led to the suicide of DySP Kallappa Handibag due to the embarrassment he faced.
The CID sources said that Praveen Khandya was managing an empire of criminals throughout Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts like a professional underworld element. DySP Kallappa who did not have clue about it became a victim of the gang.
The ransom taking was not the first incident by the gang. Many cases were not reported earlier. The gang controlled by Khandya exhorted money from traders, financiers and rich people from Malnad region. Khandya had many friends in the police department, sources say.
Khandya worked as a Hindu leader for the outer world, while he controlled his illegal empire of extortion. Kalmane Nataraj and Pradeep, two accused in the case have spilled the beans now about Khandya.
Praveen Khandya
Kalmane Nataraj from Chikkamagaluru is a financier by profession. Praveen Khandya provided him protection for the illegal financing business. Nataraj, who was arrested by the police recently, has said that Tejas who is the complainant in the case had owed him Rs 25 lacs. But Tejas has made clear that he did not have any financial dealing with Nataraj.
Tejas was abducted by the gang controlled by Khandya and was let out after paying a ransom of Rs 10 lacs. DySP Kallappa was accused in the kidnapping as a mastermind and that accusation had led to his suicide.
Khandya is yet to be traced and arrested.