A raid to arrest a 43-year-old man in a cheating case has given the police in Karnataka a rude shock–they stumbled upon secret chambers and hidden doors in what otherwise looked like a normal house.
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The Mangaluru city police on Friday arrested Rohan Saldanha at his home following allegations that he had cheated wealthy businessmen in Karnataka and other states out of hundreds of crore rupees. But a thorough check of the house made several revelations that surprised the police.
In a raid led by ACP Ravish Nayak, the police found hidden chambers, secret stairways, a luxury mini-bar, and multiple CCTV cameras installed to track anyone approaching the house.
According to a police officer, Saldanha targeted affluent victims by promising business loans worth up to Rs 500 crore and attractive real estate investment opportunities. His modus operandi involved collecting advance payments between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 4 crore under the guise of processing fees and legal clearances. After receiving the amount, Saldanha would allegedly vanish without a trace, leaving victims stranded.
Financial records indicate that one of his bank accounts alone processed over Rs 40 crore in transactions within three months.
The house has secret chambers hidden behind walls and cupboards, underground corridors, and concealed staircases. The property housed expensive ornamental plants valued at Rs 3-5 lakh each, premium vintage champagne collections, exotic liquors, and comprehensive surveillance systems with high-definition cameras monitoring every corner.
Saldanha’s strategy involved impressing potential victims across India by showcasing his wealth and claiming privileged connections to financial institutions capable of sanctioning loans up to Rs 600 crore.
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The police have found that Saldanha has cheating cases registered against him in Goa, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Chitradurga, Pune, Vijayapura, Tumakuru, Kolkata, Sangli, Lucknow, Bagalkot, and other places.
The police said they seized blank cheques, 667 g of gold ornaments, and a diamond ring estimated to be worth Rs 2.75 crore from the house. Additionally, they seized Indian and foreign liquor worth Rs 6,72,947 – far exceeding permissible limits – from there.
A police officer said the extent of money he has accumulated from committing fraud is estimated to be Rs 200 crore and that the police were investigating further.