Trio stands fake surety for accused, all for a quick buck

One of them impersonated his own brother to forge property documents

Police have arrested two men who acted as surety for criminal suspects by forging property documents, a senior officer said. The third suspect remains at large. C Manjunath Gowda, 27, was deep in debt and was looking to make a quick buck. His two friends — Krishnappa, 48, and Puttaswamy — suggested that he stand surety for habitual offenders and help them get bail. They will pay him in return.

In December 2014, Manjunath created fake documents of a property owned by his brother C Rame Gowda in survey number 175/2 in Robertsonpet, Kolar district. He forged his brother’s signature and affixed his own photograph on the document. He submitted the document to the 8th ACCM court in Bengaluru, acting as surety for an accused named Seena alias Kariya Seena. The court released him on bail, the officer added.

Seena, after getting bail, failed to attend a hearing. Police went looking for him but he was elusive. On December 1, 2016, police approached Rame Gowda and asked him to appear before court as Seena was absconding. Rame Gowda was stunned to learn that his property document had been provided as a surety. Police took him to court where he was asked to pay fine and help trace Seena, the officer said.

Rame Gowda then learnt what his brother was up to. He approached the court and said it was his brother who impersonated him. He also submitted documents to show the reality of Manjunath.

The assistant registrar of the city civil and sessions court filed a case against Manjunath at Chandra Layout police station. Police then arrested him and he spilled the beans. Manjunath said that he, along with Krishnappa and Puttaswamy, had created several fake documents under different names and acted as surety for many accused in exchange for money, another senior police officer said. The Chandra Layout police said they had also arrested Krishnappa but Puttaswamy was absconding.