Udupi: A case has been registered at the Udupi Town Police Station against unidentified persons for allegedly attempting to cheat a civic official by impersonating Lokayukta officers and threatening him with legal and departmental action. The incident highlights a growing trend of fraudsters using the names of vigilance and enforcement agencies to intimidate government officials and extort money.

The complainant has been identified as Kapil Dev S Godemane, First Division Revenue Inspector of the Udupi City Municipal Council. In his complaint, Godemane stated that he is currently serving at the Udupi City Municipal Council office located in Moodanidamburu village of Udupi taluk and has been discharging his duties as per official norms.

Call claiming to be from Lokayukta office

According to the complaint, the incident occurred on January 19 at around 12.02 pm, when Godemane received a phone call through WhatsApp from an unidentified individual. The caller introduced himself as Cheluvaraj, claiming to be a Lokayukta Inspector from the Mangaluru Division.

The caller alleged that a complaint had been received against the complainant through email and warned him to “settle the issue” at the earliest. He further threatened that failure to do so would result in the registration of a criminal case and the initiation of a departmental inquiry against him.

Godemane stated that the caller spoke in a convincing manner and attempted to create fear by repeatedly referring to the Lokayukta and potential legal consequences.

Second caller issues further threats

Shortly after the first call, another person contacted the complainant, claiming to be a senior officer from the Lokayukta. This caller allegedly reiterated the threat and warned that a case would be filed immediately if the complainant did not comply with their instructions.

The complainant said the second caller attempted to exert additional pressure by projecting authority and urgency, a tactic commonly used in impersonation frauds to prevent victims from verifying facts.

However, the complainant grew suspicious due to the nature of the calls and the lack of any official written communication.

Verification reveals impersonation

Acting prudently, Godemane decided to verify the claims instead of responding to the callers’ demands. He personally visited the Udupi Lokayukta office and enquired about the alleged complaint and the officers who had contacted him.

Officials at the Lokayukta office informed him that no persons by the names mentioned by the callers were employed there. They also clarified that no such complaint had been registered against him and that the phone calls had not originated from the Lokayukta office.

Following this confirmation, it became clear that unknown persons were attempting to cheat the complainant by impersonating Lokayukta officials.

Police register case under BNS

Based on the complaint, the Udupi Town Police registered a case against unknown persons under Sections 319(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with cheating by impersonation and common intention.

Police officials said an investigation has been initiated to trace the callers, analyse call records and examine the WhatsApp number used to contact the complainant. Cybercrime experts are also expected to assist in tracking the origin of the calls.

Growing concern over impersonation scams

Police sources said such cases are becoming increasingly common, with fraudsters posing as officials from agencies such as the Lokayukta, CBI, income tax department or police to threaten government employees, businesspersons and even private individuals.

By invoking the names of powerful institutions, scammers attempt to create panic and extract money or other favours. Officials have repeatedly advised the public and government employees not to respond to such calls and to verify claims through official channels.

Advisory to officials and public

Senior police officers said government officials, in particular, must remain cautious when receiving calls or messages alleging complaints or investigations. They stressed that legitimate agencies follow due process and do not demand settlements or issue threats over phone calls or messaging platforms.

Police have urged anyone receiving suspicious calls claiming to be from enforcement or vigilance agencies to immediately report the matter to the nearest police station or concerned department.

Conclusion

The attempted cheating case reported by the Udupi civic official serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and verification in the face of increasingly sophisticated impersonation scams. Prompt action by the complainant in verifying the claims helped prevent potential financial loss and misuse of authority. Police investigations are expected to shed more light on the modus operandi of the fraudsters and help curb similar attempts in the future.