Daijiworld Media Networl - Mangaluru (SHP)
Mangaluru, Dec 24: On December 2 a person identified as Harsha N, senior superintendent, department of posts lodged a complaint with the cyber crime police station against a person by the name Parameshwarappa. The complaint stated that Parameshwarappa (23) was pretending on social media that he was a senior postal officer posted in Mangaluru and seeking to have an alliance with the daughter of one Hanumappa Giriappa Bisalli, a resident of Goa.
Parameshwarappa also used a mobile app to dupe Hanumappa into believing that he is the recipient of Karnataka Rajyotsava award and Meghadoot award. This led to Hanumappa conducting a background check on Parameshwarappa only to find out that he was a fraudster who only made claims to be a senior postal officer.
Earlier in the week, on December 20, two police constables of the City Armed Reserve Police, Mangaluru had also lodged a complaint with the cyber crime against one Parameshwarappa for duping them to the tune of Rs 6 lac. The accused had conned the police personnel promising employment as Grade 1 and Grade 2 officers in the postal department. To cheat the police officials Parameshwarappa had opened a fake profile in the name of Pooja C N, who is a senior officer in the postal department.
Investigation in this matter revealed that both the cases were connected. The probe was carried out in the guidance of police commissioner Vikash Kumar, under the supervision of DCP Hariram Shankar, investigating officer BC Girish, police inspector cyber crime police station.
Investigating officer BC Girish arrested the accused on December 22 from KSRTC Bus stand in the city and produced him before the court on December 23.
Parameshwarappa was placed in police custody as his COVID-19 test results are pending.
Upon interrogation, Parameshwarappa revealed to having created 20 fake Facebook accounts under different names. He admitted to posing as an officer of different departments so that he could gain the trust of people and deceive them. He also revealed to having conned over 13 people to the tune of Rs 15-20 lac under the pretext of helping them secure jobs.
The city cyber crime unit has seized one laptop, five mobile phones, duplicate IDs of the postal department, ICICI Bank debit card from the accused. The value of seized items is around Rs 1.35 lac. The case is presently under investigation.