Overview

• Kartik Babu Shetty, owner of the 'Idli Guru' brand, was arrested in Bengaluru and remanded to judicial custody in Mumbai for alleged franchise fraud.
• The arrest follows a months-long investigation initiated by a complaint from businessman Ravi Pujari, who transferred Rs 23.6 lakh for a franchise deal that was never executed.
• Shetty promised a franchise setup costing Rs 33.6 lakh but failed to deliver on the agreement, citing vague excuses over a 60-day period.
• Police revealed Shetty’s involvement in multiple similar scams, including cases reported by other victims in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
• Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of Shetty’s fraudulent activities and identify additional victims.