The Hindu : Karnataka News : New twist to rice scam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

New twist to rice scam

By Our Correspondent

CHAMARAJANAGAR, JUNE 9. The rice scam reported here recently took a new twist with a storekeeper in the Chamarajanagar Taluk Panchayat, Mahesh Babu, one of the accused, today confessing that his "abduction" on Monday was done at his behest.

Members of the taluk panchayat had decided to hand over the Rs. 16-lakh rice scam to the Corps of Detectives for investigation.

After the taluk panchayat's decision, Mahesh Babu's mother lodged a complaint with the police stating that her son did not come home on Monday.

Meanwhile, the police traced Mahesh Babu at Sultan Batheri in Kerala after a phone call was received from him.

Mahesh Babu was brought to Chamarajanagar on Tuesday.

He told the police that some unidentified persons had abducted him on Monday and he was taken to Kerala.

However, he managed to escape while having food in a hotel at Calicut on Tuesday and reached Sultan Batheri by bus from where he telephoned his relatives.

The police said during interrogation today, Mahesh Babu confessed that his abduction was done at his behest according to the "advice" by Joshi Kumar, an employee of the taluk panchayat, who had been suspended for dereliction of duty. However, Joshi Kumar had denied the allegation made by Mahesh Babu, they added.

Investigation is on.

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