BENGALURU: A gang of five, including a journalist, has been arrested for allegedly robbing a realtor’s family at RMV II Stage.
Some members of the gang posed as income tax officials and took away Rs 3.5 lakh cash and two air pistols.
The accused are Manjunath, a sub-editor with Kannada tabloid Aarakshaka Suddi and a resident of Sanjayanagar, and his associates Mohammed Syed Rabbani, Kumar, Dharmesh alias Rudresh,\ and Prashanth alias Jayanth, all real estate brokers. Police said Manjunath was the mastermind.
The incident took place between 8.45am and 9.45am on January 23. Rabbani and Prashanth introduced themselves as I-T officials and said they had to search the realtor’s residence. They ransacked a room and took away the air pistols and cash.
Chetan R, 22, a law student, filed a police case against them. He said his father Ramesh was a real estate businessman and died last year following health issues. Ramesh owned several properties and the family’s monthly income was in lakhs of rupees. Chetan’s sister, mother and grandmother were at the house when the fake I-T raid took place. On learning about it, he rushed to the cops, who registered a case of robbery and cheating.
A team headed by inspector Balaraj J arrested the five persons and seized Rs 1.7 lakh cash, two air pistols, one car and a fake ID card from them. Chetan said his father had a licence for one pistol.
The gang is said to have admitted to committing a similar offence a few months ago.
