Debt-ridden couple takes to robbery, arrested for

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Adebt-ridden couple and three others landed into the police net after robbing a woman at an Ayurvedic massage center in the city.

As per the complaint filed by the victim, Anushree, the incident took place around 9:20 am on Sunday at Ganga Ayurvedic Massage center in Kodigehalli.

"Four people including a woman arrived in two bikes and the woman first approached me to inquire about the charges. She said that some of her relatives were looking for massage services," the victim, in her complaint, stated to the police.

It was further alleged that the woman called her husband who pretended to make the payment in advance through his smartphone.

However he took out a chemical soaked handkerchief and applied it to the victim's face rendering her unconscious for a while. Regaining consciousness after a few minutes, the victim realised that the accused had tied up her hands and legs with a rope.

Her gold chain and several valuables from the center were also missing. A complaint was filed with the Kodigehalli police.

Taking up the matter seriously, the police launched an investigation and began scanning the CCTV around the massage center.

Further inquiry led to the arrest for five people identified as Guru, Renuka, Prabhavathi, Rudresh and Sandeep. Speaking to News Trail, an officer said that the victim was known to one of the accused, Renuka, as they were colleagues while working as a therapist a few years ago.

It was revealed that the robbery was plotted by Renuka. Renuka and Guru are a couple, who had taken a few loans from people including their accomplice, Prabhavathi.

As the debt kept mounting, the couple started waylaying and robbing motorists and lonely pedestrians during the nights.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru NorthEast, BM Laxmi Prasad said that during the interrogation it was revealed that Renuka had suggested that they rob Anushree as she had assumed that Anushree was earning a good income through her massage center.

However, to avoid coming into the notice of the victim, Renuka avoided being a part of the robbery that day, the police said.