MYSURU: The Mysuru police have finally arrested ‘Santro’ Ravi, who has been in the thick of a political storm, from Gujarat on Friday. The police likely to be bring him to the state on Saturday after producing him before a Gujarat court to secure a transit remand.
It is said that K S Manjunath, a.k.a. ‘Santro’ Ravi, had taken shelter at an accomplice’s house on the outskirts of Bengaluru after an FIR was registered against him on January 4. For the last 10 days, he had been evading arrest. When the police intensified the probe, he fled fled from the state.
Initially, the police could not trace his location as he had switched off his mobile phone. He first went to Mumbai and then to Gujarat. Based on confirmed information, the police team arrested him from Gujarat, said ADGP (law and order) Alok Kumar. A 15-member police team had been looking for him across seven states.
At a press conference on Friday, Alok Kumar said, “The Mysuru police arrested him from Ahmedabad in Gujarat with the help of the Gujrat police. Today (Friday) is twelfth day after the FIR was registered against him and I would like to congratulate the entire team. More than seven teams have been formed under the guidance of Mysuru Police Commissioner Ramesh Banoth”.
The ADGP further said, “He first fled from Karnataka in his car. When we started looking for him, he travelled to Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana and other states. He was booked under Goonda Act in 2005. This is not new for him. He is a criminal and he knows very well how to escape after committing crimes”, he added.
Alok Kumar further said, “Some people have lost faith in police department as some officers may have made mistakes. But the police have put their best efforts in this case. We have seized his two houses in R R Nagar, Bengaluru”, he added
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had earlier expressed concern about the delay in arresting ‘Santro’ Ravi saying that it would present a wrong image of the government.
‘Santro’ Ravi kept changing his location, car and SIM and shaved his head after the FIR was registered so that he could not be recognised, Alok Kumar said. The police have also arrested two other people, Satish and Ram Ji, who were associates of ‘Santro’ Ravi. They will be produced before a Mysuru court on Sunday. Santro Ravi is allegedly involved in more than 12 cases such as prostitution, vehicles theft, kidnapping among others.
Mysuru Commissioner Ramesh Banoth, Ramanagara Superintendent of Police Santosh Babu, Mandya Superintendent of Police Yathish, Raichur Superintendent of Police Nikhil led the operation to nab ‘Santro’ Ravi. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivashankar is the investigation officer and the team included 11 other personnel. The Chief Minister, DG&IGP and Home Minister have announced a reward for the team and congratulated them.
Earlier, Alok Kumar had challenged that he will not leave Mysuru unless Ravi is arrested. “We will give you good news soon. He may hide anywhere in the world, but we will catch him soon”, the officer had declared.
