Fraudster disguised as RTO officer lures 3, extracts Rs. 18.58 lakhs, goes missing

Hunsur: A fraudulent case of promising three people recruitment in the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has come to light.

KSRTC bus conductor Rangaswamy, his brother Shankar who is a taxi driver and Rangaswamy’s relative Ashok are the victims in the case, who are said to have lost Rs 18.58 lakhs, reportedly.

As per the reports the alleged fraudster Akash, a resident of H D Kote’s Annur village had met KSRTC bus conductor Rangaswamy, who was on duty, in October 2021. Akash had introduced himself as Brake Inspector of Chamaranagar RTO.

Akash had created a make-believe situation for Rangaswamy saying that he knew the higher rank officers of RTO very well and that he would help him in getting a job in the RTO. Rangaswamy had informed Sankar and Ashok about the same.

Meanwhile, Shankar and Ashok were informed that they would be recruited as a driver and inspector in the RTO department, respectively.

In December 2021, Akash met Rangaswamy’s parents and assured jobs to their sons in RTO.

On December 12, 2021, all the three were called by Akash to a room in Hunsur and were asked to pay Rs. 16 lakhs.

After three days, the three were called to a uniform shop near Lashkar Police Station in Mysuru. Akash had handed over appointment letters and ID cards to them and had asked to pay Rs 2.58 lakhs for the uniform, appointment letter, and ID cards.

Later, the trio reached the Chamarajnagar RTO office and informed the officials that they were recruited and were informed to join the duty. At this point in time, the officials checked the appointment letters and ID cards and informed them that they were fooled.

Immediately, the three tried calling Akash, but he had switched off his mobile. They then reached Annur village to meet Akash. On meeting, he had promised that he would return the money. Once again when trying to reach him over the phone, it was switched off.

A case was registered in the Shankar Nagar Police Station of Hunsur. The police have begun the investigation.

Meanwhile, the police sources have informed that this was not the first time that fraudster Akash had trapped people by introducing himself as an RTO officer. He had fooled several people from Kerala, Madikeri, Mysuru, and other places.

It is also learned that he was on the run for the past year and that the police officials had taken the case very lightly.