Bangalore: The police have arrested a 30-year-old woman, who had failed in Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination but ran an Ayurvedic clinic in Kodigehalli. The accused also kidnapped a two-year-old boy.

The woman has been identified as KS Vani alias Usha, a native of Edamangala village in Dakshina Kannada district. Vani goes by more than a dozen aliases. Her husband Rajesh, alias Ramesh Raju, 36, has also been arrested. The couple was staying in Tindlu village near Kodigehalli.

Known as Dr Divya and Dr Asha, she ran Om Shree Guru Raghavendra Ayurvedic Care Centre in Kodigehalli.

Vani became close to her neighbours Srikanth and his wife Roopa. The couple's son Sanoop, 2, used to visit Vani's house. Vani and Rajesh kidnapped Sanoop on September 29. Srikanth and Roopa went to the police station and filed a case against Vani and Rajesh.

Kodigehalli police, who arrived at Vani's house, found that she had fled with neighbours' jewellery. Before leaving, Vani had told neighbours that she was going to attend a marriage. She borrowed the jewellery from neighbours to wear them for the marriage.

The police traced her native place and informed Udupi police, which took Vani into their custody. She was brought to the city along with the kidnapped boy Sanoop.

When Kodigehalli police reached Udupi, Vani and Ramesh claimed Sanoop to be their son. The police recovered 135 gm jewellery from the couple.

GR Desai, assistant commissioner of police (Yelahanka sub-division), said that the couple used to collect money and jewellery from neighbours, and cheated many in this fashion. "We are collecting information about their earlier offences," Desai said.

The police said that Rajesh was Vani's second husband.