Karwar: Ex-policeman Poses as Lokayukta SP to Cheat Govt Officials, Arrested

Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Jan 5: The city police here have managed to arrest a person who was in the habit of posing himself as Lokayukta superintendent of police (SP), and his associate. The person reportedly used to call government officials over phone, introduce himself as Lokayukta SP, and coerce them into parting with money to escape punitive action.

The arrested men are Murigeppa Kumbar (45), a dismissed police constable from Sadalaga in Chikkodi taluk, Belgaum district, and his associate, Basavanna from Belgaum.

The duo had a fixed plan. Murigeppa used to call up officials in important positions, speak of complaints of irregularities against them, and seek bribe in return for allowing them to escape action. Basavanna provided his bank account number for routing this illegal gratification. It is learnt that two others, Ashok Tirakannanavar, and Amar, who helped the duo in their operations, continue to be lodged in Hindalaga Jail in Belgaum.

Kumbar had called executive engineer of the zilla panchayat engineering subdivision in Sirsi a few days back. He had spoken about irregularities in the department, and placed demand for bribe to let the official off without any action. The engineer, who grew suspicious about the caller, got in touch with Lokayukta SP, Jagamayyanavar, and informed him about the caller. On December 28, the SP lodged a complaint in the town police station.

A team from the police station, comprising police sub-inspector, Nischal Kumar, assistant sub-inspector, Nayanababu Canconakar, and constable, Hanumant Kabade, verified scores of calls and zeroed in on the culprits. They visited Chikkodi and with the help of local police, arrested the guilty.

Kumbar, who had joined police service in 1986, had been dismissed in 1998 for misusing bus warrants. Investigation about his activities is in progress.