Kozhikode: Police intensified the search for key accused after a customer, who came to a supermarket in the city was brutally beaten up and cash from his account was swindled on allegation that he stole lipstick. Police assume there was conspiracy behind the incident.

The unfortunate customer was professor Prasanth Guptha of Gorakhpur in Haryana. On Wednesday night, Gupta was beaten up by the manager and staff of a supermarket functioning at a mall near mofussil bus stand here. Though police had arrested four persons in this regard, the supermarket manager Yahiya and another supervisor are still underground.

Yahiya had spearheaded the attack on Gupta. Following the incident, police raided the office of Yahiya located near civil station. It is learned that the officials have seized documents proving that the accused had withdrawn cash using Gupta’s ATM card.

Yahiya’s mobile phone remains switched off. A team led by Kasaba police Sub Inspector V. Sajith is investigating the manhandling and extortion. Police said that the key accused will be arrested soon.

Gupta, who was buying products from the supermarket, received a call from home while trying to select lipstick rolls. He inadvertently stepped out of the supermarket with the lipstick rolls while answering the call. On seeing this, the staff chased him down and attacked him, the complaint said.

Gupta was then taken to the torture room and was brutally beaten up. The accused took away his wedding ring, watch and ATM cards. Around Rs 1 lakh has been withdrawn using Gupta’s ATM cards and the amount has been transferred the supermarket’s account.

According to the complaint received by police, Gupta was taken to the torture room inside the supermarket around 5.30 pm. He was manhandled by the accused for over two-and-a-half hours. Police have learned that similar incidents have taken place in the supermarket earlier and the accused had swindled money from several other people. Police have learned that special groups were functioning in the supermarket exclusively for swindling money.

The accused were under the impression that as the customer belonged to another state, he would not protest or register a police complaint. However, matters quickly went out of control. There was a special locker inside the supermarket to keep valuables and other items taken from victims. Police had located this locker the other day. So far police have arrested four persons in this regard.