K.G. Bopaiah files Police complaint

Madikeri: In an act of blackmail, Virajpet BJP MLA K.G. Bopaiah was demanded to pay a ransom of Rs. 1 crore by a caller who telephoned him in the guise of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuth. The MLA has lodged a complaint with Madikeri Town Police in this regard.

The  person, who called Bopaiah (who is also a former Assembly Speaker) over his cellphone at about 6.15 pm on Wednesday when he was at his residence in Madikeri, identified himself as a personnel of ACB and demanded a ransom of Rs. 1 crore in order to stop ACB officials who were preparing to raid his home and office. The caller, who spoke in Kannada and gave his Bank account number, asked Bopaiah to credit the money directly to his account and cut off the call.

Later, the caller who called Bopaiah from another cellphone number, asked the MLA what he had planned regarding credit of money. Enraged by the call, Bopaiah told the caller that he was not scared of any raids. Thereafter, Bopaiah tried to contact the caller from the cellphone of visitors who were at his residence at that time. But these calls went unanswered, following which Bopaiah lodged a complaint with Madikeri Town Police.

The Police, who have registered a case in this regard, have tipped off Cyber Crime Police, who swung into action. Both the calls have been traced to Andhra Pradesh. While one cellphone number stands in the name of one Zahib Khan, the other is in the name of Annadanamma, according to the Police.

Speaking to presspersons, Bopaiah confirmed that he received two calls from different phone numbers on Wednesday evening.

Stating that the man spoke in Kannada, the MLA said that the caller read out the name plate in front of his residence and also questioned him whether he was MLA Bopaiah, to which he said he was indeed the MLA from Virajpet. “After receiving ransom calls, I have lodged a formal complaint with Madikeri Town Police and Cyber Crime Police,” he said.