Madikeri: Three arrested for trapping, extorting money from retired army man using fake marriage
Madikeri: Three individuals have been apprehended by the Kodagu police for orchestrating a fake marriage and subsequently extorting an unmarried retired soldier.
The victim, identified as John Mathew (64) from Ernakulam district in Kerala, was lured into a deceitful marriage scheme that led to threats and extortion.
The arrested suspects have been named as Abdul Basheer (29) from Bantwal, Sadiq (30) from Kadaba, and Faizal. While Basheer and Sadiq were captured by the Kodagu Police on Sunday, Faizal was already in custody in connection with a separate criminal case in Mysuru. Another accomplice, Amir, remains at large, prompting the police to initiate efforts to apprehend him.
The police confiscated three mobile phones used in the commission of the crime, along with Rs. 1,05,000 in cash and a cheque worth Rs. 2,10,000 from the possession of the arrested individuals.
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According to reports, Faizal, who served as a driver for John Mathew, convinced him to enter into a marriage by assuring him a happy life. On November 26, 2023, Faizal invited John to a homestay in Madikeri, falsely claiming that he would be wed to a woman he knew. Abdul Basheer, Sadiq, and Amir facilitated the fake marriage and arranged for their stay.
However, the situation took a turn when, on the same evening, the four accused blackmailed John, demanding Rs. 10 lakh and threatening to expose the fake marriage to his family. Distressed by the threats, John paid Rs. 8 lakh in cash and provided a cheque for the remaining balance. Realizing he had been deceived, John filed a case, leading to the subsequent arrests.
Madikeri Sub Division DySP Jagadish M, CPI Anoop Madappa, DCRB PI I.P. Medappa, Madikeri Town PSI Lokesh, and other law enforcement officials conducted a coordinated operation to apprehend the accused. Kodagu District Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan commended the efficiency of the police officers and staff involved in the case. A special team has been formed to locate the absconding accused, Amir.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
