Beltangady, May 20: Unknown persons have kidnapped Lawyer and entrepreneur Ramachandra Shenoy (47) on the night of Monday May 18th.
It is learnt that at the time of kidnap, Shenoy was at a mineral water factory in Neerachilume at Dharmasthala. His wife Rashmi R Shenoy too had been to the factory, but she returned home in the evening. The same night, factory manager Avinash phoned Rashmi and informed that her husband was seen nowhere.
Later, Rashmi along with son Rahul went to the factory and together with Gajendra, an employee and Avinash, searched for Ramachandra. They found Ramachandra’s footwear near the roadside.
The locals said that they heard somebody shouting and also noticed a car without number plate speeding towards Ujire. Shenoy did not respond to calls.
It is learnt that, for five days prior to the kidnap, Ramachandra stayed in the factory and did not come home.
Rashmi said that her husband had some financial dispute with a person named Valerian Crasta of Chikkamagaluru. About four years ago, Ramachandra had borrowed a loan of Rs 70 lakhs from Crasta and was paying him interest on it thereafter. When it became difficult for Shenoy to pay him, there were talks about giving a property in Ujire, Rashmi said.
Meanwhile, Ramachandra had received death threats from Dinesh Shetty, an accused in a murder case. But, Ramachandra ignored the threat calls although the calls continued for about six months.
Meantime, Valerian Crasta passed away and his wife Philomena reportedly pressurized Ramachandra to return the loan. Rashmi in her complaint to police has expressed suspicions that there might be the hands of Philomena behind the kidnap of Ramachandra Shenoy.
A case has been registered by Beltangady police.
