CID to probe ‘Santro’ Ravi case; accused sent to judicial custody till January 25

MYSURU: The VI JMFC court here sent wheeler-dealer and alleged human trafficker ‘Santro’ Ravi to judicial custody till January 25 after hearing on Monday.

Santro Ravi, alleged to have been involved in several cases such as human trafficking, prostitution, theft, police transfers. He was arrested from Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Friday.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Monday said that the state government has directed the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the complaints against ‘Santro’ Ravi. “The state government has directed the CID to investigate the complaints against Santro Ravi, who is said to be a fraudster”, he said.

‘Santro’ Ravi was remanded to judicial custody till January 15.

Based on the complaint lodged by a woman, said to be his wife, at Vijayanagar police station, the police initiated and registered a rape case against him. The police are now investigating the charges levelled by the woman, and will later on take up investigation into his alleged involvement in police transfers, prostitution and his links with politicians.

Mysuru police produced Santro Ravi’s friend Ramji and Shritish before the court on Monday.

In a related development, Mysuru Central Jail Superintendent Mahesh S Jigani was transferred to Bengaluru after allegations surfaced that he had obtained favours from ‘Santro’ Ravi in his transfer. Mahesh, who kept off work on Sunday, resumed duty in Bengaluru on Monday.

‘Santro’ Ravi got prisoner number at Mysuru jail on Monday. His ades Ramji and Shritish also produced before court along with him. Normally, the police park the prisoners’ vehicle in the parking area on the court premises, but on Monday, they brought the vehicle near the entrance of the court.

The Mysuru police on Friday arrested ‘Santro’ Ravi, an accused in dozens of cases including human trafficking, from Gujarat after he fled from Karnataka. The cases registered against him pertain to money transfer, fraud, and money lending, police said.

Additional Director General of Police, Alok Kumar had said that Ravi had escaped from the police and went into hiding in Gujarat, following which the police had ordered the formation of investigation teams under the leadership of senior police officers for his arrest.