BENGALURU: A police constable attached to the Marathalli police station and two others have been arrested by the Bagalur police for allegedly kidnapping two men and demanding a ransom of Rs 40 lakh for their release. The police have registered a case of kidnap against Marathalli sub-inspector Rangesh and police personnel Harish, who has been arrested, Mahadev Naik and Mahesh. The SI and two other constables are on the run now.
On March 18, the Marathalli police received information that tiger pelts were being sold illegally. Based on this, sub-inspector Rangesh, constables Harish, Mahadev Naik and Mahesh, along with one Zakir, picked up two people — Mallappa and Ramji — took them to a desolate place, put a gun to their heads and demanded Rs 40 lakh to be set free.
Meanwhile, Ramji’s relative Shivaramaiah lodged a missing person’s complaint with the Bagalur police who took up investigation and found that Marathalli sub-inspector Rangesh and the other staff were involved in the kidnap. They then informed their higher-ups and registered criminal cases against the police personnnel. The police are also considering a departmental inquiry against them, it is learnt.
“Three people have been arrested so far in connection with the case. A case of kidnap was registered a Bagalur police station and during investigation, it was learnt that one of the men was being held in captivity at a location near the Marathalli police station. It was then established that the PSI and some other staff were involved in the case. The police are on the lookout for the PSI and other missing personnel”, said Bengaluru Police Commissioner Pratap Reddy.
Further, he said strict action has been taken against officers and personnel indulging in illegal activities and such action will continue. “Such disgraceful behaviour of a handful of personnel who indulge in illegal activities should not bring disrepute to the department and hence, we are registering criminal cases against them, arresting them and in some cases, dismissing them. We also keep giving instructions to our personnel not to indulge in illegal activities,” he said and added thta 99.9 per cent of the staff are working dedicatedly.
After the Bagalur police started looking for them, PSI Rangesh, constables Mahadev Naik and Mahesh have fled from their houses along with their families. It is also believed that apart from the accused, more police personnel may be involved in the case.