Call money: Creditor held for seeking sexual favours

A private money lender was arrested here on Thursday 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 was booked under 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 the insult modesty of a woman) and for cheating.