Udupi police announce cash reward against two suspects in kidnap-for-ransom case

Udupi: The district police have announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for credible information about two notorious absconding suspects in a kidnap case. Udupi SP Hariram Shankar said that informants' identities will be kept confidential. Public with any information about the accused, can contact Kundapur subdivision DSP HD Kulkarni on 9480805422.The cash reward has been announced on prime accused Manoj Kodikere,42, from Jokatte and Chetan Padil alias Chetan Kulal,38, from Bantwal. Police said Manoj Kodikere has 20 cases registered against him, while Chetan Padil faces 13 cases across Mangaluru city and Udupi district.It may be recalled that Kota police arrested seven accused in a kidnapping-for-ransom case, and invoked the stringent KCOCA Act after uncovering an organised crime network behind the incident. Two key accused remain absconding, and a reward has been announced for information leading to their arrest.According to the complaint filed by Mohan Das Shetty of Siddapura village, his son Tejas was allegedly kidnapped in Sasthan on Nov 19, 2025. Tejas' friend Prajwal informed the complainant over a phone call that unknown persons had abducted Tejas from the roadside. When the complainant rushed to the spot, he found his son's car parked there, with the key lying beneath the vehicle. On enquiring, Prajwal stated that he had received an audio call from Tejas' WhatsApp number, during which Tejas said that two to three unidentified persons had kidnapped him at the instance of accused Manoj Kodikere.Subsequently, Prajwal received another call from an unidentified person using Tejas' WhatsApp, demanding Rs 50 lakh for his release and threatening to kill him if the ransom was not paid. In a later call, the demand was increased to Rs 3 crore, with repeated death threats.A case was registered at Kota police station under relevant sections of the BNS.During investigation, police found that the accused had acted in an organised manner, prompting the invocation of the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA). The probe, led by DSP HD Kulkarni of Kundapur subdivision, resulted in the arrest of seven accused identified as Devi Prasad Shetty alias Dikshit,33, from Katipalla, Sujith,27, from Hiriyadka, Sudip,22, from Katipalla, Shrisha Anand Shetty alias Shrisha,35, from Katipalla, Mithun alias Mithun Kaikamba,20, from Katipalla, Suhas,31, from Kemannu, and Manoj V Kotian,34, from Kemannu. All the accused have been produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.