Haveri: A seer in Haveri lost Rs 85 lakhs old currency notes in a money exchange deal of Rs 1 crore. The man who assured the seer of exchanging old currency notes has gone missing and the seer has finally lodged a police complaint.

Jangamawadi mutt seer, Dattatreya Avadhoota Shri of Byadagi in Haveri taluk had given Rs 1 crore to Dadapeer Bhooshi, a chilli merchant in APMC yard, for exchanging spiked currency of Rs 1 crore after demonetisation came into effect on November 8.

Incidentally, Bhooshi, known to the seer had contested the last assembly elections on a BSR Congress ticket.

When demonetisation came into effect, Bhooshi approached the seer assuring him of exchanging the spiked currency totaling Rs 1 crore on 25 per cent commission basis.

When the seer asked for the new currency after a few days, Bhooshi deposited Rs 15 lakhs in the seer’s acquaintance’s account and assured of handing over the balance in a couple of days’ time after taking out his commission share. Later, he started dodging the seer on one or other reason and finally even reached a point where he questioned the seer, which money was the seer talking about?

Perturbed by the developments, the seer moved for a negotiation deal with Bhooshi in consultation with the community leaders. When Bhooshi did not relent, the seer finally lodged a complaint at Byadagi police station.

In the mean time, Bhooshi has gone absconding.