Daijiworld Media Network – Chikmagalur (SP)

Chikmagalur, Jan 14: The arrest of N Mohan, a second division clerk in Tarikere range of the forest department in the district, who has defrauded the government to the tune of about Rs 1.29 crore by forging the signatures of the higher officials, has given rise to suspicion that several other employees of the department would have been involved with the fraud, and that such other frauds also would have been committed in the department.

The employee had drawn four cheques, amounting to Rs 18.49 lac, Rs 15.36 lac, Rs 29.07 lac and Rs 38.84 lac in favour of his wife, B G Anita, and encashed all of them through Tarikere sub-treasury. These amounts were transferred to her account with Bhadravati branch of State Bank of Mysore, informed district superintendent of police, MN Nagaraj, in a press conference held on Wednesday January 13. He said that the policemen have seized cash, gold, a car and some documents, from the accused. Mohan has also given clues about the involvement of other employees of the department in the fraud, he explained.

The case has been handed over for further investigation, to additional police commissioner, Mutturaya.  Prizes have been announced for circle inspector, U Sharanappa, and constables, Rajappa and Gurumurty, who unearthed the fraud. Their names have also been recommended for further commendation, to the western range inspector general of police, he said.