More than Rs 2 crore recovered from Chaitra and her associates

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The CCB police have intensified their investigation into the multi-crore cheating case involving Chaitra Kundapur.

The Udupi-based Hindutva activist, Chaitra, is presently in police custody on charges of defrauding a businessman Govinda Babu Poojary of Rs 5 crores by allegedly promising him a BJP ticket for the last Assembly elections in the state.

Apart from Chaitra, six others have been arrested in connection with the case. After nabbing the driver of Abhinava Swamiji on Saturday, the CCB team conducted inspections at various places in Udupi on Saturday.

The searches were conducted to identify the alleged land bought by the gang using the money gained from the fraud. Police have so far seized Rs 40 lakh that was kept in a local society in which Chaithra’s brother-inlaw was the manager.

As much as Rs 65 lakh worth of gold ornaments that were bought using the illgotten money was kept in Chaithra’s house which is also in police custody now. Also, Rs 45 lakh were recovered from the house of Naik.

It is said that the third accused in the case, Abhinav Halasri Swamiji who is currently on the run, has returned Rs 50 lakhs to the complainant Govinda Babu Poojary.

Chaithra and the co-accused are alleged to have shared Rs 3 crore among one another that was taken from Govinda Poojary on the promise of providing the latter a BJP ticket to contest from Karkala.

It was also revealed that Chaitra had been building a house for herself with the help of her friend. The house is being built on a 20-25 cents plot which was bought by Chitra’s friend and co-accused in the case, Naik, about a year ago near Hiriyadka in Udupi.

It is alleged that Chaitra had been providing finances for the construction of the 2-storey structure. Sources on Sunday said that the CCB police have also confiscated an expensive KIA car allegedly belonging to Chaitra Kundapur.

The car was with Kiran, who is said to be a friend of Chaithra. Kiran had brought the car to Mudhol from Solapur. Kiran was running a car driving school. Police have also taken Kiran into custody along with the car.

Sources from the police said that around 6 am on October 29, 2022, the money was collected on Karkala-Mangalore road. Later, at around 10:30 am, the cash was brought to Maravanthe Beach. Only Rs 10 lakh out of Rs 3 crore was shared at the house of Chaithra Kundapura.

Later, Chaithra and Gagan, another accused, joined Naik, who was waiting at the Maravanthe Beach with the remaining Rs 2.9 crore in cash. The same has been shared by the three accused, the sources added.

Chaithra reportedly invested about Rs 15 lakh to renovate her elder sister’s house at Koteshwara. She had also bought a new plot of land and it is learnt that Naik was also building a new house at Karkala using his share of money from the scam.

On Friday, Chaitra was admitted to the Victoria hospital after she reportedly collapsed during interrogation. However the next day, the hospital declared her medically fit and even suggested her collapse could be orchestrated, sources said.

Further efforts are on to arrest the Swamiji after which it is suspected that the probe will expose the possible involvement of other people.