Bengaluru, Jan 30: A 34-year-old man, Rachappa Ranga, who identified himself as a migrant construction worker, drew the attention of tax sleuths after he filed Income Tax Returns for an annual income of Rs 40 lakh. Based upon the tip off received from the I-T department, the Koramangala police put Ranga under their radar.

Months later, the probe revealed that Ranga is a drug peddler, who supplies top quality ganja or smoking weed to the city's addicts, at Rs 35,000 per kg. According to reports citing police sources, he sold nearly 30-kg of ganja per month.

Ranga, along with his associate Srinivas, was nabbed by the police on January 20, after being tipped off about their presence a hotel on 80ft Road Koramangala. The duo were arrested along with Rs 5 lakh in cash and 26 kg of ganja.

Investigation further brought to light that Ranga made properties worth crores -- invested primarily in his native village Pushpapura in Chamarajanagara district -- and lived in a plush villa on Kanakapura Road paying Rs 40,000 as monthly rent.

After the I-T department began scrutinizing his returns, Ranga, on advice from lawyers, registered himself as a Class I contractor with a few government agencies, reports said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2018 09:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).