Three, including Kochi Corporation councillor, arrested for extorting money from businessman

KOCHI: Three persons, including Tibin Devasi, councillor at Kochi Corporation and Youth Congress district general secretary, have been arrested in a case of kidnapping and threatening an entrepreneur. The other accused arrested are Fiaz and Shameer from Kasaragod. Krishnamani Peethambaran, a native of Kasaragod and owner of Cosmic Innovation at Elamakkara Jawan Cross Road, was abducted on Thursday by a gang of ten demanding Rs 40 lakh.

Under the leadership of Tibin, Rs 2 lakh was extorted from Krishnamani. Three three-member gang was arrested following a tip-off given by Krishnamani's friend to the police. An investigation has been launched into the seven fugitives.

According to police, Krishnamani and Fiaz were together in Qatar until 2017. The financial transactions related to this resulted in conflict. When Krishnamani started the company, Fiaz joined as an employee. The residence was adjacent to the establishment.

On Thursday afternoon at 12 noon, Fiaz came with his friends and got into an argument with Krishnamani after he demanded immediate payment of Rs 40 lakh, which is due to him. Then at around 4 pm, Krishnamani was abducted in Fiaz's wife's car and beaten.

Then Krishnamani was taken near a hospital where his father-in-law works and forced him to sign a stamp paper agreeing that he would pay Rs 20 lakh soon. Rs 2 lakh was transferred to the account.