Karnataka: Woman files fraud case against state minister Somanna’s son

BENGALURU: A 40-year-old woman filed a cheating and assault case against Dr BS Arun Somanna, son of Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti V Somanna and two others at Sanjay Nagar police station on Wednesday.

The police have registered an FIR on a direction from the 37th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court, where the woman filed a private complaint. The complainant, Trupthi, a resident of Sanjay Nagar, stated that she and her husband Madhwaraj own an event management company. Arun met her husband at a government function in 2013 and asked him to organise a function to celebrate his daughter’s birthday in 2017. Arun allegedly proposed to start a venture in partnership with Madhwaraj and in 2019, they started a company, Neighbourhood. 

When the company started incurring losses, Arun blamed Madhwaraj for the losses. He later forced Madhwaraj to resign and reduced his share in the company. When the complainant and her husband questioned Arun, the latter allegedly threatened them.

Arun even threatened to kidnap Madhwaraj’s children and abused him in filthy language. He also allegedly assaulted Madhwaraj with a stick at his office, Trupthi stated in her complaint. The complainant alleged that Arun started insisting Madhwaraj to pay him money. Unable to bear the harassment, Madhwaraj paid Rs 86 lakh. Arun also allegedly forced him to sign a Rs 65-lakh loan agreement. As the harassment continued, Madhwaraj tried to end his life.

Based on the complaint, the police have booked Arun, Jeevan Kumar of Dasarahalli and Pramod Rao of Hebbal.