Mangaluru: A man travelling from Davanagere to Mangaluru was allegedly abducted by four unidentified men and robbed of ₹1.15 crore in cash and two mobile phones. The incident reportedly took place near Lalbagh on October 28, after the victim arrived in the city carrying two bags of cash.
The victim, identified as Satyanarayana, was allegedly forced into a black car by four men wearing mufflers to conceal their faces. The accused reportedly drove him around Mangaluru for nearly two hours before taking away the cash and valuables and abandoning him near Kavoor.
Following his complaint, Urwa Police registered a case and launched an investigation.
Employer entrusted him with ₹1.15 crore
According to the complaint, Satyanarayana was working for Nagaraj, a resident of Gandhi Bazaar in Shivamogga.
On October 23, Nagaraj allegedly handed over two bags containing ₹1.15 crore in cash to Satyanarayana and instructed him to travel to Mangaluru. He was asked to stay at a lodge near the KSRTC bus stand and wait for his employer, who would meet him there.
Following the instructions, Satyanarayana boarded a KSRTC bus from Davanagere at around 10 pm on October 27. He reached Mangaluru at approximately 6 am the following morning.
Four men allegedly forced him into a car
After getting down near Lalbagh, Satyanarayana was walking along the road when a black car approached him. Four unidentified men wearing mufflers allegedly got out of the vehicle and forcibly pulled him inside.
The accused then drove around the city for nearly two hours. During this time, they allegedly took away the two bags containing ₹1.15 crore and his two mobile phones.
The men reportedly dropped him on a hill near the Kavoor bus stand at around 8 am before fleeing from the spot.
Victim threatened with dire consequences
Before abandoning Satyanarayana, the accused allegedly threatened him with serious consequences if he approached the police or reported the incident.
After being released, Satyanarayana approached the Urwa Police and lodged a complaint detailing the alleged abduction and robbery.
Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to identify the four accused. The circumstances surrounding the transportation of such a large amount of cash and how the accused allegedly knew about it are also important aspects of the case.
Police investigation underway
Investigators are working to establish the sequence of events and trace the black car allegedly used in the crime. CCTV footage from areas around Lalbagh, the KSRTC bus stand and Kavoor may help establish the movements of the accused.
The police are also examining the circumstances surrounding the cash transfer and the victim’s journey from Davanagere to Mangaluru.
No arrests had been reported in the initial account of the incident. Further investigation is underway.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety of people transporting large amounts of cash, particularly when travelling between cities.