AMARESH Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present petition has been filed by petitioner- accused No.7 under Section 438 of Cr.P.C., seeking to release him on anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.227/2020 registered by Attibele Police Station for the offence punishable under Section 364A of IPC.

(2.) I have heard the learned counsel Sri.Harsha.D.Joshi for the petitioner-accused No.7 and learned High Court Government Pleader Sri.Mahesh Shetty for respondent - State.

(3.) The gist of the complaint is that about four years' back complainant came in contact with accused No.2 Mahesh @ Selvakumar. He promised to get LMS project from Tamilnadu Government, as he is acquainted with the Minister of Higher Education and about one month back accused No.2 called the complainant to meet the Minister, but later postponed the meeting by giving some reason. Accused No.2 called the complainant and told that he will make arrangements of the meeting on 16.8.2020 and asked the complainant to come and stay at Attibele Hotel. Accordingly, the complainant and one A.M.Sharif came to Rami guest hotel and at about 7.00 a.m. one person came in Skoda car bearing registration No.KA.02 MG.1405 and took the complainant, A.M.Sharif and Balaji. Thereafter, the driver took the car to unknown place and stopped in a remote place. Suddenly ten persons came and surrounded the car, dragged the complainant and others out of the car and blind folded them and assaulted the complainant and demanded to pay Rs.2 Crores on gun point. On the next day, the complainant and others were taken to unknown place and they were locked in a room, assaulted them and demanded the money. Thereafter, they have reduced the ransom of Rs.2 Crores to Rs.1 Crore and lastly the complainant agreed to pay Rs.36 lakhs and one Prabhudeva the Corporate business Manager residing in Mangalore collected the cash from the bank and handed over to him and complainant informed to Prabhudeva that he had paid the said amount to some agent for getting the project. Therefore, he handed over the said amount at Srinivas Industries, Sarjapur Road to the supporters of accused No.2 and later they have released the complainant. On the basis of the complaint a case has been registered.