Hyderabad:
Absconding television artiste B Vijaya Rani, wanted in a case of duping several co-artistes of nearly Rs.2.2 crore while running a chit fund business, was arrested by Hyderabad Central Crime Station police on April 10, 2014.
Seven others, including four members of her family, a lawyer and a financier, were also held for aiding her, CCS DCP G Pala Raju told presspersons. A native of Gudivada in Krishna district, Rani has acted in several TV serials and films.
When Rani launched the chit fund business some years ago, many TV artistes joined the fund. When business suffered and there were mounting losses and debts, she raised loans at high rates of interest to continue the business.
When she was unable to clear the loans, she disappeared along with her son Saran Kumar, her sister Sudhalata and her son Chaitanya, and daughter-in-law Revati. She took the help of a lawyer, Sittaiah Srinivas, who guided her on legal issues to avoid clearing the loans, the DCP said.
The advocate advised her to sell her flat, house, vehicles and mobile phones before disappearing, he added. Financier Mallesh Goud got her flat registered on his name through General Power of Attorney, hiding the fact that it was already mortgaged with a bank, police said.
Raju said police would move courts to attach her properties in Hyderabad and Vijayawada to help return the money to nearly 72 victims, police said.
Cases would be filed against the financiers, the DCP said.
Rani maintained that she had not cheated anyone. Since the financiers were harassing her regarding the loan arrears, she disappeared, Rani added.
