Pramesh S Jain
T
he Central Crime Branch police on Friday booked a couple for running money lending business illegally charging exorbitant interest rate from the gullible people for many years.
The illegal business came to light when one of the victim identified as Samreen Taj,25,from Siddapura Bengaluru borrowed loan of Rs.1.6 lakh for her sister’s marriage in July 2021 and end up paying Rs.3.8 lakh only interest amount till May 2024.
However when she requested them to clear the principal amount unable to pay the interest the couple Shashidra and her husband Ashok MS,verbally abused and threatened her with dire consequences to pay the dues.
The accused also filed a cheque bounce case against her after writing Rs.4 lakh in the post dated cheque which they had collected from her as surety .
Unable to bear the harassment,the victim approached the Deputy Register of Co-operative society seeking help.
Taking cognizance of the petition,Gangadhar,the Deputy Registrar of co-operative society filed a complaint with the CCB against the couple for running money lending business illegally on Saturday.
Based on the complaint,the CCB registered a case against the couple charging them under the Karnataka Money Lenders Act,Karnataka Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant interest Act and also under section 504 (
intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 420 ( cheating ) under IPC for further investigations.
The victim told the officials of the cooperative society, that the accused were running the business for many years and extorted money from gullible people through “meter baddi”.
