BENGALURU: A 64-year-old man, who fell for a promise to sell him a ‘rice-pulling device’, was robbed of `50 lakh by a gang of 5-6 men. The incident was reported at Health Layout near Srigandhadakaval in Annapoorneshwarinagar police limits on Tuesday morning.The victim Ramugowda, a resident of KHB Colony in Basaveshwaranagar, runs a puja items shop near a temple. Police suspect that people known to one Devendrappa, a middleman, were behind the robbery.
Police said Ramugowda filed a complaint stating the money was intended to buy a resort that belonged to Devendrappa. Initially, he maintained the same version and when further enquired, he revealed that he had gone to buy a ‘rice-pulling device’, believing it would bring him prosperity. Police said Ramugowda wanted to buy the device and his acquaintance Devendrappa had told him he knew some people who sell it. Ramugowda had asked him to first show the device, but the sellers asked him that they won’t show the device but were ready to sell it if he paid `50 lakh against the “market rate” of over `1 crore.
Ramugowda arranged the money and it was decided that the deal will be sealed at a house belonging to Ramugowda’s relative. On Tuesday morning, they gathered in the house at Health Layout and those who claimed to sell the machine asked him to show the money. Once they saw the money, they engaged in a conversation with Ramugowda. After a few minutes, around 8.50 am, 5-6 men who came in a car barged into the house, threatened them at knife-point and grabbed the suitcase which had `50 lakh cash and escaped.
Ramugowda, however, managed to note down the registration number of the car and the police are trying to trace it. They suspect that either Devendrappa or those who claimed to sell the device planned the robbery. “We are questioning Devendrappa and are on the lookout for the robbers. Also, it is hard to believe that the money belonged to Ramugowda and we suspect he had come to buy the device on behalf of others,” police added.
The superstitious belief, generally among businessmen, is that one will prosper if they procure a rice puller. Scamsters manage to exhibit that the metal attracts or pulls rice towards it, using tricks. Then, they claim the metal has rare and magical properties and will bring luck. Falling prey to their simple tricks, people lose lakhs and crores in some cases.