Summary:
BENGALURU: In a special drive against moneylenders charging exorbitant interest, Central Crime Branch (CCB) police on Wednesday conducted simultaneous raids on residences of illegal financiers across the city.Police, who formed 10 special teams, have arrested 10 people, including two women. “I have sought explanation from concerned deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) as to why the jurisdictional police inspector failed to control those illegal activities. Action will be taken once I get reply from the DCPs,” he added. They have seized Rs 69.2 lakh in cash and incriminating documents from the accused.City police commissioner T Suneel Kumar said the raids were part of a crackdown on financiers and moneylenders who were fleecing people by charging exorbitant interest rates or were grabbing properties of defaulters. The move comes as deputy chief minister G Parameshwara instructed police to check the illegal moneylending menace in the city, following complaints from vendors during his visit to KR Market last week.During the raids, police have recovered 258 blank cheques, 52 demand notes, five four-wheelers, two two-wheelers, 11 property documents, 25 e-stamp papers, 13 bond papers, 14 loan agreements, 10 GPAs (general power of attorney) and documents of seven vehicles.Police said the accused were Manjunath alias Miracle Manjunath, 30, of Kamakshipalya; Bhaskar, 60, and his son Dileep, 33, of Mico Layout; Velu alias Market Velu, 35, a rowdy-sheeter of City Market; MG Subramni of Hanumanthanagar; Sathish of Byatarayanapura; Jayamma, Krishnamma, Venkatesh and Lingaraju, all residents of Chandra Layout.Preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused used to collect 5-15% interest for a month from innocent customers, which amounts to 60-180% per annum, said the police commissioner, adding that Rs 30 lakh was seized from Bhaskar and Subramani alone.Alok Kumar, additional commissioner of police (crime), said one of the suspects, Chethan, had managed to escape during the raid on his residence in Jayanagar.On police colluding with illegal financiers, commissioner Kumar said he would initiate action against jurisdictional inspector for failing to avoid illegal activities in their jurisdiction.Kumar said the CCB had conducted several raids on gambling dens, clubs, pubs and illegal financiers in city..