In a raid at the office and the residence of former corporator V Nagaraj alias Bomb Naga in Srirampura on Friday, the city police seized a large amount of demonetised notes.
Sources in the police department said that Nagaraj’s house was raided based on an abduction complaint registered in Hennur police limits. “A businessman has filed a complaint against Nagaraj who abducted him and took a ransom of Rs 50 lakh for the release. Police took an arrest warrant from the courts and raided his office and residence,” they said.
The location was the home of a Bengaluru criminal known as Bomb Naga (real name: V Nagaraj) who was not present when the police showed up for a raid. The house, in a middle class neighbourhood of West Bengaluru, was rigged with CCTVs, and fortified with a series of iron gates and bars.
Based on a complaint by Umesh, who had regisitered a complaint stating that Nagaraj has cheated him in money exchange racket. The complainant even alleged that he was even abducted by the former rowdy.
Ajay Hillori, deputy commissioner of police, east division, said Nagaraj was being invested for an alleged extortion racket. “Nagaraj has at least 10 cases registered against him,” Hillori said. Nagaraj is absconding.
Nagaraj, a former BBMP corporator, is said to have been running a ‘black and white’ business of money laundering. The police raided his residence following information of his involvement in money laundering post-demonetisation. So far crores of rupees have been found in his possession while search for more money is underway.
All the money found in his possession were in demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
The police had to summon metal-cutting experts to break into the home of Bomb Naga, who has been accused earlier of links to the murders of political rivals and extortion. He has in the past contested elections- without success -for the local corporation and the state assembly.
Naga who is wanted in more than 45 cases managed escape even before the police could reach his home.
Besides banned currency, lethal weapons were also found in his five storey house cum office.
Search is still continuing.
Former rowdy sheeter’s wife Lakshi who was at home is said to be not cooperating with the police.
