Man uses selfies with leaders to dupe job aspirants

A first division assistant of the animal husbandry department was arrested by the Central Crime Branch police for duping several unemployed youths with promises of government jobs.

J Manjunath, 35, a resident of RR Nagar, would get himself photographed with political leaders and use his "proximity" with them to lure youths.

The accused used to click selfies with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and several other dignitaries during public events. He would show them to unemployed youths, boast about his political connections and promise them government jobs. He also claimed he was the vice-president of the government workers' union and that he had contacts in all departments.

Manjunath collected several lakhs from job aspirants and cheated them.

One of the victims filed a complaint against him before the Vidhana Soudha police. Considering the gravity of the case, the city police commissioner transferred the case to CCB police.

During investigation, it was learnt that Manjunath was a habitual offender who cheated several unemployed people. Earlier, another victim had filed a complaint against him at Sheshadripuram police station. Manjunath had obtained bail in that case.

He was arrested on Wednesday and produced before the magistrate who remanded him in judicial custody.