MLC’s ‘PA’ dupes bizman of Rs 10 lakh

A conman posing as the personal assistant of an MLC duped a businessman and made away with Rs 10 lakh.

The victim, Rajan Malhotra, who owns an electronic equipment company in Bellandur, approached the police and lodged a cheating complaint on September 2.

According to Malhotra, the accused, Subash Puranik, visited him at his office on July 17 and introduced himself as the personal assistant to a sitting MLC. Puranik told Malhotra he would get him an order from the government to install CCTV cameras across the state.

Overwhelmed by the offer, Malhotra agreed to Puranik's terms and gave him Rs 10 lakh to get the work order at the earliest. When there was no news from Puranik after a few days, Malhotra tried to contract him, but his phone was switched off.

Following several attempts to contact him, Malhotra realised he had been duped and approached the police. The Bellandur police are on the lookout for Puranik.