Shivamogga: Sagara Police has busted a gang of fraudsters who allegedly duped the owners of over Rs. 1.17 Crore worth of arecanut loads sent to Ahmedabad in Gujarat without delivering it to the addressee.

The 350 bags belonging to Dolaram Hari Singh were loaded and sent from Madhukar’s Godown in Balasagudu Village under Sagara Rural Police Station limits to be transported to Ahmedabad. It was said that 24.5 quintals of arecanut valued Rs. 1,17,60,000 was duped. A complaint was lodged after it came to light that the accused had stolen the arecanut without taking it to Ahmedabad.

Following the case, the police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and carried out the operation for 22 days. On November 18, using technology and information from police informers, the accused in the case in Madhya Pradesh’s Sarangpur were arrested. Truck driver Razzaq Khan of Indore, Theju Singh of Phatabilod in Ahmedabad and Anish Abbasi of Shahjapur in Madhya Pradesh were arrested. Ashok Leyland lorry worth Rs. 25 lakh was seized.

They were remanded to judicial custody in Sagara on Thursday November 24. The accused have a history of inter-state thefts and have also committed crimes in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.