An entrepreneur, Manoj (28), was kidnapped after demanding repayment of a loan he had extended to film director Nanda Kishore. The incident, carried out by a gang of notorious rowdies, reportedly involved extorting large sums of money from him.
A year ago, rowdy Rajesh (alias Appi) had lent ₹1.2 lakh to Nanda Kishore through Manoj. When the director failed to repay the principal and interest, Manoj repeatedly followed up for recovery. Rajesh then pressured Manoj to collect the money on his behalf. On the day of the Gauri festival, Rajesh called Manoj near Nanda Kishore’s old apartment in Basaveshwaranagar, promising repayment, and orchestrated the kidnapping.
The gang involved in the abduction included Rajesh, Bakery Raghu, Anna Seena (alias Srinivas), Loki, Soma, Rajesh, and Naveen. During the ordeal, they forced a transfer of ₹3 lakh and threatened Manoj’s family, warning that they would be killed if an additional ₹10 lakh was not paid.
After assuring the rowdies that the money would be arranged, Manoj was released and filed a complaint. Following his complaint, the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested six of the accused, including key members of the gang. The case highlights the increasing incidents of organized crime linked to financial disputes and the involvement of notorious local rowdies in orchestrating violent recoveries. Authorities are continuing investigations to apprehend the remaining suspects and ensure the entrepreneur’s safety.
