KOLLAM: Police on Wednesday arrested Kalabhavan Sobi George in a case for extorting lakhs from a man in the promise of a lucrative job in Switzerland. According to the complainant, he was duped off Rs three lakh by Sobi with fake assurance of a job in Europe.

Sultan Bathery police registered the arrest from Kollam Chathannoor. Sobi was travelling in a private vehicle when police caught him. Around 25 cases were registered including various charges.

Almost six cases were registered against Sobi from Wayanad alone. It is said that Sobi extorted Rs 26 lakhs illegally from this district alone. Meanwhile, Sobi termed the sudden action against him as a 'payback' for his decision to give statements to the CBI regarding the mysterious death of violinist Balabhaskar.

Sobi said he won’t back off from Balabhaskar’s case regardless of the ‘heinous’ tactics employed to silence him.