Venkatesh Prasanna accused of extortion, blackmail, underworld links

[email protected] (CD Network)
February 13, 2016

Mangaluru, Feb 13: City based entrepreneur Prabhakar N Poonja has accused senior police officer Venkatesh Prasanna of indulging in blackmailing, extortion besides fake encounters with the support of underworld.

prasanna1
The Chairman & Managing Director of Mangaluru-based Poonja International Hotel, at a press meet in the city on Saturday demanded a high level probe into Mr Prasanna’s alleged links with underworld and his other illegal activities.

Accusing Mr Prasanna of spreading false and baseless rumours against him, Mr Poonja said that he was planning to file defamation case against the former in the high court.

Claiming that he is facing life threats, the hotelier said that if anything happened to him in future Mr Prasanna should be held responsible.

Mr Prasanna, who holds a doctorate in Kannada literature and won a president’s medal in 2015, worked in different parts of coastal Karnataka in different positions after joining the police department in 1994 as a sub-inspector. He worked in Mangaluru city for nearly 15 years.

Mr Poonja said that when Mr Prasanna was heading Dakshina Kannada district crime investigation bureau, the latter had raided Poonja International under the pretext of prostitution.

“When Mr Prasanna found nothing in the hotel, he demanded bribe from me. I refused his demand and made it clear that no such business was allowed in our star hotel,” he said.

He said that initially Mr Prasanna had promised him to protect him from the underworld threats, but later started demanding money and began to issue threats.

Brushing aside allegations made against him of having links with underworld, Mr Poonja said that nearly five years ago he had spoken to a person who identified himself as an underworld don over phone.

“Nearly five years ago city based businessman KC Nayak had received a threat call from underworld don Bannanje Raje demanding Rs 1 crore. Mr Nayak was worried. Since Mr Nayak was my close friend I had called back the same number and asked the caller why he was threatening a senior person. I don’t have any other links with underworld,” Mr Poonja said.

Accompanied by Mr KC Nayak in the press meet, Mr Poonja said that recently Mr Prasanna had sent him a notice asking him to appear for questioning. “It was a bogus notice and I have brought this issue to the notice of senior police officers,” he said.

He went on to claim that if a hotel owner or builder refuses to fulfill demands of Mr Prasanna, he gives their contact number to underworld elements to issue threats.

Comments

Kamlesh
 - 
Wednesday, 11 Oct 2017

These corrupt police officers need to be taught a lesson and only the brave can stand up to them.Mr Poonja is is one of the most reputed and honourable man of the city with a long legacy.not only does Mr Poonja do social service actively but is a man of his words!Congratualtions Mr Poonja for all you have achieved.Wishing you success always!

Mandeep Cheema
 - 
Thursday, 26 May 2016

Mr Poonja is Brother in law of Sharad Shetty, but he looks totally clean and should not be blamed just for this infamous connection leading to D-company but it should be thoroughly probed at the same time.

Jonathan
 - 
Monday, 21 Mar 2016

h my goodness! A fantastic article dude.
Thankyou Nevertheless I'm experiencing problem with ur rss.
Don’t know why Not Able To contribute
to it. Is there anybody finding equivalent rss problem?
Anyone who knows please answer.Thanks

My weblog steam gift card codes: http://Www.Realhacks24.com/steam-wallet-hack/

ranjith poojary
 - 
Monday, 15 Feb 2016

Dear George ... we hope that the christian terrorists stop the world activity of terrorising the world peace.. we can see what happened in afghanistan.. iraq and other countries.. world war 2 was by the christians... killed millions of jews.. wake up and stop using words like islamic terrorist..

ankita
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

@rakesh wow am shocked at how narrow minded people are these days.Punish the family for someone else's crime?is that what you are implying?.if you lived in mangalore you would know how famous and well respected Mr Prabhakar Poonja is and everyone knows he

kapi
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

@rakesh your comment shows how ignorant you are!just because sharat shetty took the wrong turn in life doesn't mean family related to him should be seen in the same light! Give you an example just because \Ravana was evil we all very well know \"vibeeshan

Sarith kinya
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

some people say prasnna is supplying snake venom (poison).

Rakesh
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

Is mr Prabhakar poonja in law of infamous Sharad shetty..who was with dawood Ibrahim ..????? Is he the same guy?...please correct if I am wrong .we are well aware that d company threatened venkatesh openly (rashid malabari during court visit).case must be properly probed .

George
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

Mr Venkat prasanna is tough cop..who took bold steps against Islamic terrorists ,this case must be probed properly as Islamic terrorist rashid malabari had once threatened to teach lesson to mr prasanna openly as he exposed isi and Muslim underworld nexus in Mangalore.this case must be properly probed .it is well known fact that isi gets boost during congress rule and our strict policers are often targeted .

Pria
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

Venkatesh should be suspended for defaming one of the most important, honourable and respected man like Mr poonja!corrupt police officers like him should be suspended!good job mr poonja for speaking up!

IBRAHIM.HUSSAIN
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

There are plenty of black sheep's in Police department and civil society that cannot be ignored.

Mani
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

i was waiting for this day ,,,,this saffronist police office ...even he is a black spot for them

amir
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

corrupt officer wearing a facade all this time. while trying to steal from the rich.kudos to Mr Poonja for doing this.This man should be suspended and medals should be revoked.

Sahil
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

Anyone saying somethin like if it's planned why would he raid poonja in the first place?..everyone living in mangalore knws it's the oldest and safest hotel there is..prasanna is corrupt and needs to be taught a lesson

Ankit
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

At the comments supporting prasanna just remember your supporting corruption as well. Why would a reputed person such as poonja accuse him of such a serious crime he wouldn't get anything other then a long trial at the court for standing up against a corrupt officer .i have heard of such cases against prasanna before it's just that no one ever brought it to light and we should support poonja for doing this. Medal or not corruption and extortion is wrong and since I've heard many stories about him attacking the rich for money poonja's word and repute definitely prevail's over his.also raiding a hotel was wrong anyone living in the city knws it's the oldest and safest one around to the below people who called this planned .please give your justification for the raid then? No one can fake that especially when nothin was found.the raid will definetely be in the records prasanna can't deny that. I hope he's forced to resign we don't need such corrupt officials bullying people

saurav
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

Hoax,unwanted use of bureaucracy,defamtion may proove too costly for mr.venkatesh prassana for defaming one of the most important person of costal region.The district administration should look after this case very closely so that important people of the society like Mr prabakar poonja is not defamed by any burrucant for unwanted reasons

hrashikesh
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

This is fall fake ..
Phrakar poonja is a well known person ..
It's just tht the cops r expecting something from him
Please stop spreading the fake newd

Alwyn
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

Any way probe in this regards highly recommended as mr. Prassanna track records is not clean.

Mohan
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

I am very shocked and disturbed to read this article people like MR Prassana should be imvestigated properly!i know Mr Poonja and Mr Nayak personally they are honest,well reputed business men of the city and such baseless false allegations against them is so shameful and that too without any proof!these police officers are so corrupt they need to be taught a lesson

Mohan
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

I am very shocked to read this article,I know mr Poonja and mr Nayak personally and they are very honest and reputed people of the city,so for MR Prassana to harass them is wrong,he is a corrupt police officer and probing needs to be done in this matter before he targets other business men as well!

Kalndar
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

Suspend Venktesh first

raj
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

question is not if he has gold medal or not , prasannas name had cropped up in encounter of lawyer shaju which was considered as a fake encounter and investigation is going on .
corruption in police department is not a new thing

Pria
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

Good to see that Mr Poonja has come out in the open and talked about it,people like Prasanna who harass innocent people need to be taught a lesson!they are up to no good and utilise their power to make money!so shameful

Manjula
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

an investigation should definitely be conducted

Miserable
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

This is planned allegation. Mr. Prasanna is a very good gentleman and never ask for any bribe. All politics going on....

Narvante
 - 
Saturday, 13 Feb 2016

Venkatesh prasanna is a hero for local kannada news papers..

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
October 29,2024

kasaragod.jpg

Kasargod, Oct 29: At least 154 people have been injured in a fireworks accident at the Anjootambalam Veererkavu Temple in Kerala's Kasaragod district. Among the injured, eight individuals are reported to be in serious condition, with one person in extremely critical condition. The tragic incident occurred just after midnight on Monday during the traditional Theyyam festival, which drew over 1,500 attendees to the temple.

Eyewitnesses stated that the accident was triggered when sparks from firecrackers ignited additional fireworks stored in a nearby room. As panic ensued, a stampede followed, leading to further injuries. Local authorities confirmed that 97 individuals have been admitted to various hospitals in Kasargod, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Mangalore for treatment.

A young girl present during the incident recounted, "The accident took place after sparks from crackers fell into a room where other fireworks were stored. Soon, we were all running away, and I fell down and got injured. My sister escaped unhurt."

Safety Protocols Ignored: Police Detain Temple Officials

Authorities have attributed the cause of the fire to negligence on the part of the temple officials. The police have taken two members of the temple committee into custody for questioning. According to local officials, the temple had stored low-intensity fireworks worth around Rs 25,000 for the festival, which concludes on Tuesday night.

Kasargod district Superintendent of Police (SP) D. Shilpa emphasized that the temple authorities failed to comply with safety protocols, noting that they did not secure the mandatory licenses required for the bursting of firecrackers. District Collector K. Inbasekar confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway, with forensic samples collected from the accident site.

Local CPI(M) MLA M. Rajagopal expressed his condolences, calling the incident "very unfortunate" and reinforcing that safety measures must be strictly adhered to during such celebrations. Kasargod MP Rajmohan Unnithan echoed these sentiments, pointing out the serious lapses on the part of officials responsible for ensuring safety during the festival.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
October 28,2024

Mangaluru: In a chilling incident that has raised suspicions of foul play, a 35-year-old man was discovered dead inside a train coach traveling from Bengaluru to Murudeshwar. 

The deceased, identified as Mouzzan from Kumbarpete, Doddaballapur, worked as a sales representative and was differently-abled. He boarded the train on October 24 from Yesvantpur and occupied the Divyang Coach.

The incident came to light on the morning of October 25 at Udupi, where a railway guard found Mouzzan unresponsive. The railway police immediately rushed him to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead. 

With no identification documents on him, the police utilized a label, “RS Tailor Chickpete,” found on his shirt collar to trace his family through WhatsApp, helping his relatives reach Mulki by Saturday.

Upon inspection, police noticed ligature marks around Mouzzan’s neck, hinting at possible foul play. His family reported that his bag and mobile phone were missing, raising further suspicion. 

The last known location of his phone was traced to Sakleshpur, suggesting he may have been targeted during the journey. Investigators suspect robbery as a motive and are now actively pursuing leads, with searches underway in Mysuru and Bengaluru.

A case has been filed at Mulki police station, and efforts to uncover the truth behind this tragic incident are intensifying as police work to piece together the circumstances that led to Mouzzan’s untimely death.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
October 25,2024

udupimurder.jpg
The accused wife and the victim husband

 

Udupi, Oct 25: A seemingly natural death has unraveled into a heart-wrenching case of betrayal and murder in Udupi’s Marne village. 

Balakrishna (44), who had been battling fever and severe illness for nearly a month, succumbed to his condition on October 20, despite extensive treatment at multiple hospitals. 

Diagnosed with jaundice, he was under care at KMC Hospital in Manipal, Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru, NIMHANS Hospital in Bengaluru, and Victoria Hospital. But his symptoms persisted, and he was brought home on October 19, only to pass away at 3:30 am the next morning.

A complaint filed by his grieving brother, Ramakrishna (42), has now transformed Balakrishna's case into an alleged murder investigation. According to Ramakrishna, his brother’s wife, Pratima, had been in a relationship with Dileep from Hirgan. Allegedly, frustrated by Balakrishna's interference in her relationship, Pratima conspired with Dileep to eliminate him.

The complaint suggests that Pratima and Dileep plotted to gradually poison Balakrishna, lacing his meals with a toxic substance that steadily worsened his health. 

In the early hours of October 20, Dileep allegedly visited the home, where he and Pratima are accused of suffocating Balakrishna with a bedsheet, ending his life in a final act of betrayal. 

The Ajekar police have now registered a murder case, transforming Balakrishna's tragic death into a haunting investigation. They also have managed to arrest the victim’s wife and her boyfriend. 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.