Conned, debt-ridden techie turns to robbery

A former techie, who had lost Rs15 lakh to a conman and decided to recover the lost amount by committing robberies, has been arrested along with his four associates. The software engineer has been identified as K Ravi, 29, a native of Geddalapaly village near Doddaballapur.

The gang, formed by Ravi in February, was involved in as many 42 robberies. Yelahanka police have recovered goods worth Rs30 lakh from them.

The other accused have been identified as Ramakrishna, 23, Manja alias Masyanna, 25, Yellappa, 23, (all natives of Geddalapaly village near Doddaballapur) and Ambarish, 21, a resident of Maladagudda village in Raichur.

Police said that Ravi had studied BE in Electronics and Computers and had earlier worked in a private firm. He came in contact with a native of Kerala, who was supposedly starting a new business. The man promised Ravi a return of 15-20% a month against the amount invested in his business.

Ravi arranged Rs15 lakh from a private financier and invested the amount in the conman’s business. However, the man disappeared from the city and private financiers started demanding money from Ravi. Finding it difficult to meet their demand, Ravi decided to rob people waiting for vehicles during night-time.

He found an able accomplice in Ramakrishna, a cab driver at Bengaluru International Airport, Manja and Yellappa. The four stole a car from Rajagopalnagar in February, changed its registration number and used the vehicle to rob people by offering them a ride. Ambarish joined the gang later.

In a short span of seven months, the gang became a headache for the police.

CCTV footage proved decisive
It was the footage from a CCTV camera in an ATM near Marathalli that led Yelahanka police to the gang. The gang had threatened a man and forced him to withdraw money from the ATM.

A team, guided by assistant commissioner of police (Yelahanka sub-division) Puttaswamy Gowda, and headed by police inspector E Kenchegowda, arrested the gang. They have recovered 1 kg gold ornaments, 1.25-kg silver jewellery, Rs2 lakh in cash, two cars, four laptops, electrical goods and mobile phones.