Official booked for cheating villager of Rs 70 lakh

The Lokayukta police have registered a case against a district social welfare officer for cheating an illiterate villager from Singihalli, off the International Airport Road.

The accused, Narasimhaiah, has been charged with cheating Kuttappa (name changed) and withdrawing Rs 70 lakh, which was part of the compensation paid to the villager for parting with his land to set up an aviation industry in Devanahalli taluk.

Kuttappa’s land, among others’, was acquired for the project by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) in 2007. After the final notification, the distribution of compensation process was initiated. At that time, Kuttappa chanced upon Narasimhaiah who offered to help him claim compensation. Narasimhaiah helped Kuttappa to open a bank account and collected the cheque book and passbook on behalf of the villager. Kuttappa was allotted a compensation of Rs 1.70 crore and Narasimhaiah took signatures of Kuttappa on blank cheque leaves. Later, Narasimhaiah withdrew around Rs 70 lakh in the name of his relatives and friends.

“It was only after almost 5-6 years that the complainant realised that a major portion of the compensation was swindled by Narasimhaiah. The accused is presently working as the district welfare officer in Bengaluru. The complainant realised he had been cheated only when one of his relatives took the passbook to the bank. A case was registered and investigation taken up,” a senior police officer said.

On Tuesday, the Lokayukta police searched Narasimhaiah’s house and office and froze his bank accounts. The officials have seized the bank account details from Narasimhaiah and are verifying them.

“The investigation will also include the involvement of officials of KIADB who have allowed a third person in distribution of compensation to villagers,” the officer said.