The Raichur Rural Police arrested four individuals on Saturday for allegedly extorting money from farmers under the pretext of microfinance recovery. The arrested suspects are Fayyaz, Sheikh MD Ayub, Syed Shahbaz Ahmed, and Haroon Rashid.
According to the police, Sheikh MD Ayub, a recovery officer at Bajaj Finance, conspired with his associates to track down farmers with unpaid loans using a mobile application. The group reportedly intimidated borrowers by blocking their vehicles on the road and pressuring them to settle their debts immediately.
The incident came to light on January 17, when Fayyaz, who resides in Gundlur village in Vadagera taluk, Yadgiri district, was on his way back from the cotton market in Raichur. The suspects confronted him near Yaramaras, claiming that he had an outstanding finance payment and pressuring him to clear it to retrieve his vehicle.
The police are continuing their investigation into the extortion racket, with more potential victims expected to come forward.