Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jul 31: Kundapur police here have arrested a man who cheated a number of persons by making promises of providing them a lucrative employment, procuring visa etc, and by doing nothing after collecting money from them for these purposes. He was produced in the court.

The arrested accused happens to be Surendra Karkera, who used to be identify himself as an RTI activist, and thereby people saw him in the company of high and the mighty. He took advantage of the image he had created for himself in this way, to make people believe that he can get things done if they paid money.

After Surendra's arrest, the police station is witnessing a steady stream of visitors who say they have been fleeced by the accused, and several of them have even come forward to file complaints against him. Police sources have estimated that the accused has defrauded people to the extent of over Rs 50 lac by making promises including employment. However, the actual quantum can be arrived it only after detailed investigation, and only if all those who lost money come forward to register complaints.

Surendra, it is gathered, sent complaints to the Lokaykta against several government employees, which resulted in various raids. Some of these officials also faced suspension and dismissal as a result. Surendra tried to encash the image he earned through this process, and made people to believe that he can secure government employment, visa to a country of their choice etc, if they paid to him handsomely.

A complainant, who says he lost two lac rupees because of this man, says that after making him to run from pillar to post for several months, Karkera drove him away, after challenging him to show proof about the payment he made.

The police have taken up investigation, but the fact that new complaints are coming in, and new faces of the accused are being exposed, is putting burden on them, it is said.