Malavalli: The Malavalli Town Police have nabbed 14 people in connection with a robbery case reported near Ramanduru, Kirugavalu hobli in the taluk on December 12. The police have recovered Rs 52.81 lakh in cash, a car and mobile phones from the arrested.

The police said Srinivas, a post office employee of Kalenahalli, had lodged a complaint that Srinivas, son of Rangaswamy of Mandya, had cheated him of Rs 5 lakh in exchange of old notes for new ones.

He had also cheated one Swamy of Rs 5 lakh and several others to the tune of Rs 67 lakh luring them into exchanging new notes for old currency. In the December 12 incident, the accused, Srinivas, reportedly drove them in a car to an isolated place and later escaped with the cash after throwing chilli powder at them. The accused and his accomplices also pelted stones at the car, said the complaint.

The Town Police, who registered a complaint, began a probe led by SP Sudhir Kumar Reddy and Additional SP Savitha, and arrested Umesh, Channakeshava, Chaluvaraju, Mahadevaswamy, Ramalinga of Ramanduru, Dilip, CCTV Anand, Rajesh, Mysurammana maga Ananda, Abhishek, Purushotama, Vasu, Babu of T Narasipur and Manja of Shravanabelagola, in connection with the crime.

The Malavalli police have detained two minors in connection with murder of Kumar, at Handanahalli in the taluk, on December 24. They were produced before the court.

JD(S) worker Kumar of Benamanahalli was attacked by three motorbike-borne miscreants after they threw chilli powder into his eyes and murdered him with lethal weapons. Halagur police had registered a case in this regard. Police said they are on the lookout for the prime accused Keerthi.