Industrialists’ abduction case: Case solved in a week, 10 held

Mysuru: Barely a week after the abduction of two industrialists from Nanjangud, Mysuru district police have solved the case by arresting 10 hardcore criminals. Another accused is still on the run.
A clue about a previous demand for money by one of the employees of the rescued industrialist led to the arrest of the gang. Seven of the 10 arrested have various criminal antecedents, including murder and attempt to murder and are facing charges under the Arms Act.
Industrialist Deepak had received a threat from one of his former employees in April last year. Though he had ignored the threats, he had saved the number from which the call was made. A police team was successful in cracking the case based on this clue.
Prime accused Basava, from Mandya, has nine criminal cases pending against him. He had served a jail term for murder and was released in 2019. Seven of the 10 accused are facing several criminal charges. Now, police probing their details.
Superintendent of police Seema Latkar on Monday claimed to have solved the abduction for ransom case that happened on February 6 by arresting 10 persons – from Mandya and Mysuru. Five vehicles including an industrialist’s four-wheeler and Rs 21 lakh were seized from the gang members.
She said the accused abducted Deepak and Harsha in their car from their industry in Adakanahalli industrial area in Nanjangud taluk. The accused had come in three two-wheelers and a car. The incident was reported around 12.30pm and immediately they demanded a ransom to set them free. The gang had demanded Rs 1 crore and then is said to have settled for Rs 35 lakh that was paid by the family members.
The industrialists were released an hour after the ransom was paid through their known businessperson. Latkar said their primary aim was to first save the abducted safely and later nab the accused. “We were successful in solving the abduction case within a week,” she said. Police officers DySP Govindaraju, inspector Shivananja Shetty and PSIs Chethan and Krishnakanth Koli, and others were part of the special teams formed that uncovered the crime.
Offered ill-gotten money to various temples
The accused had divided the booty among themselves soon after they got the ransom. Some of them bought new clothes, mobiles, and shoes while a few offered money – Rs 25k, Rs 50k, and Rs 20k, to various temples across the state through hundi (collection box), police said.