Bantwal: Man dupes woman of gold for 'COVID-19 compensation'

Bantwal: A man deceived an elderly woman of her gold earrings by claiming that she is a beneficiary of COVID-19 compensation money.

The incident occurred in the mini Vidhan Soudha at BC Road here on the morning of November 9.

Atmadi Telambil resident Jayanti had gone to MESCOM office to pay her electricity bill. While returning an unknown man claiming to be the son of her acquaintance Shenappa, introduced himself to her.

He made Jayanti believe that she is the beneficiary of Rs 1.5 lakhs of COVID-19 compensation, to receive it she has to make a payment of Rs 10,000. He also asked her for her Aadhar card and said that she will have to come to the mini Vidhan Soudha to fill an application form.

When Jayanti said that she does not have the money or her Aadhar card and will have to ask her son about it, the man claimed to have already spoken to her son and said that her son told him to take her mother’s earrings instead of the money.

Jayanti believed him and gave her earrings to him. The man immediately left the spot.

She later called her son from the mini Vidhan Soudha and told him about giving her earrings to the man. Her son immediately arrived at the mini Vidhan Soudha and after learning that her mother has been robbed of her earrings registered a complaint at the Bantwal town police station.

Police are investigating the incident and have already taken CCTV footage of the man from mini Vidhan Soudha premises.