Scrap dealers seek refund of Rs 15 lakh ‘ransom’ paid to Hulimavu police

BENGALURU: The high court ordered notice to the home secretary, superintendent of police of Bengaluru Rural district and others in a petition seeking refund of Rs 15 lakh ‘ransom’ received by Hulimavu police and Rs 2 crore as damages for alleged human rights violation.Yarab, Mushtaq Pasha, Afroz and Syed Baksh, who are residents of Sulibele village in Hoskote taluk and scrap dealers by profession, filed this petition.Justice PS Dinesh Kumar directed the government advocate to seek instructions from N Chandrashekar, a police constable attached to Hulimavu station, with regard to a specific allegation that on January 15, 2021, he received Rs 4,000 through PhonePe from Yarab, one of the petitioners before the court, after demanding Rs 50,000.According to the petitioners, at 9am on January 14, Mahboob Pasha, inspector attached to Hulimavu station and constables Praveen, Rajashekar, Shailesh and N Chandrashekar, who were in mufti, barged into Yarab’s shop at Shankanipura and started beating and kicking him.When questioned by family members, they claimed to have information that he had received stolen goods. They also threatened that if anyone interferes, a case would be slapped against them. Later, they took the four petitioners in their Mahindra jeep and demanded Rs 25 lakh as ransom for their release.The petitioners claimed they were ultimately released from illegal confinement after their families paid up Rs 15 lakh.According to the petitioners, though a representation was submitted to the local SP, no action was taken. The petitioners sought protection for their family and a direction to the higherups, instructing Hulimavu police not to harass them.