Puttur: Baddi Babanna's Disappearance - Duped People Clueless
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Nov 18: Babanna, now popularly known as ‘Baddi Babanna’, who suddenly disappeared from Bettampady village in the taluk recently, after collecting huge sums as deposits at exorbitant rates of interest, probably will escape from the clutches of law too, even if he is caught. Because, as the people who have lost their money confess, they are not in possession of any evidence to show that they had deposited money with him.
Over 40 people from villages like Renja, Bettampady, Nidpally, Arlapadav etc., had gathered at the police station here on Saturday November 14, to complain to the policemen about the extent of fraud Babanna had committed on them. As they strongly believed that Babanna's wife would have been aware of his whereabouts, she was summoned by the policemen and questioned. During her questioning, reportedly, the policemen came to know that Babanna had decamped with a beautician, a mother of a child, with whom he had been close since the last couple of years. Babanna's wife also disclosed that the husband of the woman knew about this affair. The policemen did not find any cash at his home. They are now working on the information that Babanna was from Nettanige in Kasargod district.
Although the police officials are not prepared to buy the story that Babanna's wife does not know his whereabouts, they are helpless. Several so called intelligent people are believed to be trying to guard the secret that they had deposited money with Babanna, for the fear that this revelation can damage their reputation. Police inspector of the rural police station here, B K Manjaiah, has asked the people duped by Babanna, to come forward and file complaints. He said that Babanna would be booked under Indian Penal Code section 420 relating to fraud. But no one is forthcoming with a written complaint. He has also asked the people to take care not to conduct any financial dealings with unauthorized persons or individuals.
It is learnt, that Babanna had promised to pay money to over 20 people on November 9. But, he was last seen walking away after coming from Nidpally and getting down from an auto rickshaw at M T Road in the town on Monday November 9. Even though the wife of Babanna has complained to the rural policemen that her husband has gone missing, so far, the policemen have not been able to file a fraud case against him, because of lack of evidence.
Some people now claim that Babanna had the power to easily prevail upon the people to part with their money, and that he had got that power with the help of witchcraft, practised by his friend from Kerala. There are a few who swear that he had left the country, claiming that he possessed two passports. Babanna had helped two people from the region to go abroad, and hence, most probably he too might have fled to a foreign country, they believe.
There are many who feel that 'Baddi Babanna' would have played the same trick with the people of the place from where he came to Bettampady a few years ago. No one knows his origin, except that he was from Kerala. He had informed a few that he was from Kasargod district, while many others were told that he was from Kannur district. After coming here, he gained in popularity by getting involved with chit funds, promptly paying the chit amounts and interest due, organizing dramas, Iftar parties, pujas in Daivasthanas etc., besides arranging pilgrimages for the rural people and getting involved with Yuvaka Mandal activities.
Babanna is learnt to have caught hold of mainly those people, who find it hard to disclose their actual sources of income. As such, for the fear of getting caught in the quagmire of law, they prefer to repent in silence, it is said. More and more people are now claiming to have lost money because of Babanna’s disappearance, and that Babanna had succeeded in convincing them that he was a gentleman to the core, and highly trustworthy. It is also said that the last deposit he got was of Rs 17 lac, collected just two days before his disappearing act. A contractor from Renja has reportedly lost Rs 27 lac because of Babanna’s disappearance.