Chikkamagaluru: A chit-fund operator has been grilled by the sleuths of the CID investigating the suspected role of DySP Kallappa Handibag in an abduction case, on Saturday.

Kalmane Nataraj of Kalmane Chit Fund, who is being looked as a prime accused in the case was brought to the police guesthouse here amid tight security, from the district sub-jail, after obtaining permission from the court. Nataraj who was arrested along with Khandya Praveen (divisional secretary of VHP, Shivamogga) has been remanded to judicial custody. As per sources, Nataraj has confessed to have collected Rs 10 lakh ransom from Kallappa, soon after the DySP collected the same from Pawan, a close friend of abducted youth.

The team of investigators led by SP Rajappa quizzed Nataraj about giving supari to Praveen to kidnap Tejas Gowda, as the latter owed him IPL cricket betting money.

The investigators also recorded the statement of Rakesh, the sub-inspector in the rural police station who had arrested the gamblers at a farmhouse on June 27.

Tejas was kidnapped and released on June 28. Fearing inquiry, over 50 bettors are absconding and have switched off their cellphones, say sources.