Realtor Arrested in Tumakuru for Selling Fake VIP Tirumala Passes
The Tumakuru Town Police have arrested a 30-year-old realtor, Maruthi Hanumantharayappa, for forging the letterhead of Karnataka’s Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, to secure and sell VIP Tirumala Darshan passes. The accused, a resident of Yelahanka New Town, allegedly sold these forged passes for amounts ranging from ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 each.
Modus Operandi
Maruthi reportedly used the Home Minister’s forged letterhead to request VIP passes from the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s office. To lend authenticity to his actions, he placed the Home Minister’s photograph as his display picture (DP) on his phone and made calls to the AP CM’s office, pressuring staff to comply with his requests. He even issued threats of suspension and defamation if they failed to provide the passes.
Alert and Arrest
The scam came to light when the Home Minister’s office was alerted about the misuse of his letterhead. Upon receiving a verification call from the minister’s staff, Maruthi not only abused them but also threatened to tarnish the minister’s reputation by making false allegations. Additionally, he demanded ₹2 lakh from the staff, further escalating suspicions.
A complaint was lodged, prompting the formation of a special police team. The team tracked Maruthi to his residence in Yelahanka and arrested him. Police seized a computer and printer used to forge the letterheads.
Charges and Investigation
Maruthi has been booked under multiple charges, including cheating, forgery, impersonation, extortion, and criminal intimidation. Investigations are ongoing to identify others who may have been involved in or benefited from this racket.
Implications
This fraudulent scheme has not only embarrassed the Home Minister but also highlighted the misuse of official privileges for monetary gain. Authorities are now reviewing processes to prevent such misuse in the future.
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