Newskarnataka – Kundapur

Kundapur: Kollur police have been successful in apprehending two of the three accused who  were reportedly  making threatening calls to  the wife of the chief priest of Kollur Temple with an aim to extort money.

The two identified as Mohan Mogaveera and Shanker were arrested on March 3, Monday. Another main accused Harish Reddy is still absconding.

A complaint was earlier lodged stating that Mangalamma, the wife of K Manjunath Adiga, the chief priest has been receiving threatening calls since five days from a person identifying himself as Harish Reddy.  It is learnt, the person demanded a  sum of Rs 50 lakh and threatened that he would kill  the priest’s son Nityananda Adiga who is studying Vedas in Mysore if the demand was not fulfilled.

Consequent upon the complaint, the stranger once again called Mangalamma asking her to  give him Rs 10 lakhs on March 3, Monday. He also directed her to place the cash in the vehicle which would be parked near the Mastikatte welcome arch. Accordingly, Mangalamma did so and the police arrested the duo who arrived by a bike to pick the cash from the vehicle.

Krishnaprasad Adyantaya, President of the Temple Management Committee who  says the incident has instilled fears in the mind of devotees, demanded a thorough probe into the case.