Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, Mar 3: A woman has been accused of duping nearly a hundred people of lacs of rupees with false promises of availing them loans from the minority welfare department.

It is alleged that Tabassum (35), a resident of Udyavar, used to tell people that she would be able get them loans of several lacs from the minority welfare department, and for this purpose, she would take money from each person step-by-step.

In the beginning, she would take about Rs 1,000 claiming it was for application form, and over a period of time, fleece gullible people saying officials in the department needed to be 'bribed' to speed up the loan work. This way, she took about Rs 20,000 from each person.

It is said that she has dubed about 60 persons in Karkala alone and another 20 in Udupi.

Moreover, she would publish fake news and photo of herself 'handing over money' to some 'beneficiary' in a leading newspaper, and would then show this paper clipping to her victims as a 'proof'.

At a time, only loans up to a few thousands can be availed from the minority welfare department, but Tabassum would promise to avail loans up to Rs 5 lac to Rs 10 lac. When her victims enquired about the loan, she would say there was delay on the part of the department.

After the issue came to light, members of Jaya Karnataka approached SP Annamalai and registered a complaint, urging for strict action Tabassum.