Bengaluru: Currency racket busted, MLC's kin, 13 others held

Bengaluru: CCB police have arrested a gang of 14 men, including the son-in-law of Member of Legislative Council Veeranna Mathikatti, on charges of trying to exchange demonetised currency worth Rs 9.1 crore.

The operation was conducted based on information provided by Nanjunda, a real estate agent who was recently arrested while trying to exchange demonetised currency worth Rs 3 crore on Bull Temple Road.Police said Praveen Kumar, 43, the son-in-law of the Congress MLC, was arrested along with 13 others based on the tip off provided by Nanjunda.

The other arrested have been identified as Edwin Rosario, 45, of Benson Town; N. Umesh, 45, Anbalagan, 47, Prabhu, 34, Manamohan, 51, P. Chandrashekhar, 50, S. Srinivas, 39, M. A. Arun, 42, Mohammed Imran, 40, Harris, 40, Shekhar, 37, Narayana Bhat, 56, and S. Kishore Kumar, 30.

“Praveen, who hails from Dharwad, was living in Sadashivanagar for the last three years. He had received the money from accused Umesh, a businessman and a resident of Nagarabavi, by assuring him that he would help him in converting the demonetised currency. He had struck the deal for a commission of 58 per cent.

He had sought help from the other accused persons for the deal. There was information that he had kept the money at Edwin’s house in Benson Town, where an NRI was supposed to come and collect the money. But despite waiting there for four hours, the NRI did not turn up. Later, the house was raided and Rs 9.1 crore in demonetised currency of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination was seized,” the police said.The police also seized 15 mobile phones, two cars and three bikes from the arrested people. They are further probing into the links the accused.

MLC Veeranna Mathikatti

Not in touch with son-in-law: MLC
MLC Veeranna Mathikatti told reporters that he was not in touch with his son-in-law Praveen for the last six months. “The police are free to initiate any action against him if he is involved in any crime,” he added.