Man poses as KSPCB official; cheats 2 people of Rs 5L

The city police are on the lookout for a man who posed as the general manager of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), and cheated gullible people by offering bank loans.

KSPCB officials learnt about the fraud when Abu Rahman and Anwar from Kozhikode walked into the KSPCB office on Wednesday looking for one Ashwani Kumar, general manager (Finance), KSPCB. The staff told them that no official by that name existed.

Upon inquiry, it was revealed that one Ashwani Kumar had posed as the general manager and duped Rahman and Anwar of Rs 5 lakh by promising a loan from a private bank to set up their business. They also told officials that Kumar had given them a cheque as surety while taking the money.

Kavitha Rani R, the administrative officer who looked into the case, verified the bank account and found that Kumar had opened a savings bank account with a nationalised bank in KSPCB's favour, at its Metropolitan Magistrate Court Branch on Nrupatunga Road, the FIR stated.

While verifying with the bank manager, it emerged that the accused had submitted the KSPCB's official letterhead with authorised signatures of the KSPCB chairman and secretary as the document to open the bank account on July 14.

The bank officials also told Kavitha that Kumar had submitted an identity card from KSPCB, claiming he was the general manager of the finance department.

Kavitha lodged a complaint with the Cubbon Park police, who charged Kumar with forgery and cheating. They are trying to trace him.

Meanwhile, KSPCB chairperson Lakshman explained to DH that the accused allegedly worked alone to forge the board's letterhead. "We will have a look at the letterhead to find out if it is genuine or fake. If it is an original one, we will inquire as to how he obtained it," he said.