Seven, including former Minister’s gunman, arrested for robbery bid

The District Police arrested seven persons, including Chidanand Kurabet, a police constable who earlier served as a gunman for the former Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, on the charge of robbery attempt and cheating.

The other accused are Sanjeev Arabhavi, Ramesh Malyagol, Raghavendra Koppad, Ramappa Talawar, Rajaram and Prakash.

A case has been registered at the Mudalagi Police Station against four more unidentified people in connection with the crime.

The victim, Kalmesh Rangapur, a businessman, has filed a complaint with the Mudalagi Police saying that the accused Chidanand falsely promised him to pay an interest of 30% on his investments.

He convinced Kalmesh that he can give a return of ₹30,000 for every ₹1 lakh invested. Trusting him, Kalmesh managed to collect a total of ₹2.68 crore from banks, cooperative societies and friends and relatives.

Chidanand invited him to a shed in Mudalagi on the pretext of counting the currency. When Kalmesh arrived there with his associates, a gang of six-eight men attacked them.

The gang members threw chilli powder in the eyes of Kalmesh and his associates and tried to run away with the money. The incident occurred on October 30.

However, Kalmesh, who had earlier suffered some losses in a financial scandal, was overcautious this time. He kept ready a team of a dozen people who attacked the assailants and rescued Kalmesh and his associates.

They also apprehended Chidanand and his gang and handed them over to the police.

The police have seized ₹2.39 crore from the accused. The police suspected that some more people are involved in the offence.

A team has been formed to arrest them and recover the missing funds.