Henchmen of Ravi Pujari, Nikhil Shetty held in Bangalore

The central crime branch (CCB) on Friday arrested two associates of underworld dons Ravi Pujari and Nikhil Shetty, who were planning to kidnap a leading businessman in the city.

The arrested, Bhaskar alias Mukka Baachu, 28, from Haleangadi in Dakshina Kannada district and Anand Shetty alias Ananda Narayana Shetty, 54, of Yekkar village near Mangalore, along with their associates, were preparing to attack a businessman and rob him. They were also planning to murder the businessman.

The duo, along with their associates — Yeda Vasantha, Ganesh Bangera alias Ganesh and Venu — gathered at a ground near Binny Mills to plan the kidnap. However, when the CCB team surrounded them, three of them managed to escape. The police seized lethal weapons and Rs52,000 in cash from the arrested persons.

Police said that the gangsters often used to threaten businessmen in the city and demand ransom from them.

It may be recalled that Bhaskar was the mastermind behind the murder of slain rowdy-sheeter, Vamanjoor Rohi in Mangalore and was arrested by Mangalore district police at Tannirbavi on July 13, 2009. He was on bail all these days and doing errands for Pujari and Shetty.