Call money: Creditor held for seeking sexual favours

A private money lender was arrested here today for allegedly cheating and seeking sexual favours from at least two woman borrowers in connection with "call money" racket probe, police said.
The accused, identified as Gudivada Ramakrishna, also allegedly usurped property of a loanee in the city.
Explaining the modus operandi of Ramakrishna, DCP (Law and Order), Zone I, CM Thrivikrama Varma said the accused used to lend money on exorbitant rates after obtaining promissory notes and blank cheques from the borrowers.
Ramakrishna would later seek sexual favours from the woman borrowers by threatening them, the DCP said.
"Police raided his house in Pedawaltair area here and seized 37 blank cheques, 39 promissory notes and LIC bonds belonging to borrowers, besides an SUV, a two-wheeler and four knives," Varma said.

Ramakrishna has been booked under various sections of IPC including 384 (punishment for extortion), 354-A (physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and for cheating.

"The call-money case was registered against Ramakrishna at Arilova police station in the city on December 15 following a complaint lodged by a woman," the officer said.
He said police are expecting more women victims to lodge complaints against Ramakrishna.
The DCP said the complainant, a resident of Adarshanagar area, had borrowed from Ramakrishna by pledging her gold ornaments.

"However, when she wanted to get her jewellery released by paying Rs 4 lakh upfront, the accused returned only half of the valuables and sought Rs 4.5 lakh in cash in addition.
"When the woman expressed her inability to pay, he allegedly sought sexual favours from her and one of her friends," the DCP added.
He said Ramakrishna had also allegedly sought sexual favour from another woman borrower, a resident of Narasimhanagar area, after she failed to repay the interest on loan.
Call money refers to a mode of private lending where loan is made available instantly at borrower's doorstep but at exorbitant rates of interest and the lender can demand repayment anytime over a call.

In another instance, Ramakrishna allegedly usurped
property of one Srinivas at Pedawaltair, who had borrowed Rs 5 lakh from him.
"Ramakrishna had agreed to purchase Srinivas' flat for Rs 35 lakh. However, he did not pay Srinivas and instead took away the 'original property deed' and occupied his flat in 2009," the DCP said.
Meanwhile, police today arrested a call money operator, identified as Rampilla Papa Rao (56) in Vijayawada.
"Police seized cash worth Rs 1.50 lakh, 452 blank promissory notes, 330 blank bank cheques with signatures from clients, 154 bank pass books, 158 ATM cards and 19 blank stamp papers from the accused," Vijayawada Police Commissioner Goutam Sawang stated in a release.

The officer said Rao allegedly made various victims pay even after they had cleared all dues with accumulated interest.
"The accused also threatened the victims by issuing legal notices against them based on the blank promissory notes and blank cheques," Sawang added.