The Karnataka Police on Sunday suspended a police sub-inspector and three constables after they were booked for allegedly extorting Rs 3.70 lakh from a Tamil Nadu businessman.
“The accused policemen — Chamarajanagar district CEN sub-inspector Ayyana Gowda and constables Basavanna, Ramesh, and Mohan — are currently absconding,” said B T Kavitha, Chamarajanagar Superintendent of Police.
According to the police, the incident took place on July 26 when the businessman, Sachidananda Murthy, had come to Chamarajanagar town with Rs 3 lakh as per the instructions of two individuals named Syed Ansari and Imran, who had lured him into a money-doubling scheme.
The police said that while Murthy was waiting for the men at a hotel, the accused policemen were at his doorstep, stating that they were conducting a raid and seized the cash.
The accused officials, including Chamarajanagar district CEN sub-inspector Ayyana Gowda, allegedly threatened to arrest Murthy for storing “black money” and demanded Rs 4 lakh to let him free, the police said.
Murthy gave them the cash of Rs 3 lakh and also transferred Rs 70,000 via Phone Pe to Ansari. Later, he filed a complaint with the Chamarajanagar town police. The role of the policemen came to light following the arrest of Imran and Ansari.
Special teams have been formed to nab the accused policemen, said Kavita.