Bengaluru: The demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currency notes may have sparked heated debates, long queues before banks and ATMs and spawned numerous currency exchange racket, but in this bizarre case it even led to the murder of a businessman by his own friends.
The businessman, Satthar Ali, a resident of Kalanagar in Channapatna, was allegedly murdered and the body was burnt by his friends – all for newly introduced Rs 2,000 notes worth up to Rs 10 lakh.
The incident took place on Dec 16, but it came to light a day after the murder took place. The businessman was murdered in Tenginakallu forest area in Ramanagara district and the police have arrested four people for various charges, including murder. The accused have been identified as Altaf, Mohaib, Syed and Akbar, all residents of Channapatna. The police said the accused and deceased knew each other for several years.
Police said on Dec. 16, the accused called Ali to exchange the new currency with the old notes and offered 20 per cent commission. They asked him to come near Tenginakallu forest area.
When he arrived, he accused killed him and burnt the body before fleeing with Rs 10 lakh in cash. The incident came to light on December 18, when the locals came across a burnt body and told police. According to the preliminary investigation that it was a murder for gain. The call details record suggested that there were several rounds of conversations between accused and victim over phone. Suspects were detained and confessed to the crime. Ali had accumulated new denomination currency and was looking for exchange them for a commission. Tension prevailed in Channapatna police station as people staged protest and allegedly threatened to kill the accused.
