BENGALURU: Praveen Khandya, the main accused in last year’s staged kidnap and ransom case in Chikamagaluru has been remanded in police custody till January 16 by the JMFC Court in Chikamagaluru.
He is being Interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for his alleged involvement in the ‘staged’ kidnapping for ransom case of cricket betting operator Thejas Gowda and his ‘rapport’ with the former deputy superintendent of police Kalappa Handibag, who had ended his life on July 5 after he was placed under suspension for his alleged involvement in the case.
The CID had chargesheeted 11 accused in the case and had shown Khandya as absconding. They had spared Handibag but had not given him a clean chit, said an official source.
Khandya, a Bajrang Dal activist and police informant, has 32 cases against him and was on the run since July. Last month had applied for anticipatory bail and it was granted by the High Court. The CID, which is investigating the kidnap for ransom case and the reasons behind Handibag’s suicide, had applied for Khandya’s police custody and was granted the same by the JMFC Court on January 7.
Khandya is likely to spill the beans on the nexus between the cops and the cricket betting ring in Chikamagaluru. “His interrogation may throw light on how Handibag became a victim of the unholy nexus,” an officer said.
Thejas had filed a complaint against Handibag and four others for their alleged involvement in his kidnapping on June 28 and had stated that he was released only after his friends paid Rs 10 lakh as ransom to Handibag. Thejas’ friend Pavan had spoken to the DySP before handing over the cash and recorded the conversation. Handibag had allegedly received the ransom money under instructions from Khandya. “He (Handibag) may not have known the entire story and may have become a victim of his proximity with the anti-social elements. Why should a police officer take instructions from an anti-social person?” the officer said.
