Daijiworld Media Network – Kaup
Kaup, Aug 23: Police have successfully busted a major fraud network by arresting a couple accused of creating fake land records, forging signatures, and cheating to the tune of Rs 1,02,75,000, including a loan of Rs 45 lac availed from Katapadi Cooperative Agricultural Society.
The arrested are Riyannath Banu (25), a resident of Kombagudde, Mallaru, and her husband Numan Ismail (33), a resident of Bhaskar Nagar, Uchila. Police have also uncovered their involvement in several other fraud cases.
Between February 21 and March 27, 2024, the accused obtained a loan of Rs 45 lac from Katapadi Cooperative Agricultural Society by mortgaging land and presenting Dinesh and Rajesh as guarantors, with the intention of cheating. They paid only three monthly instalments and then defaulted on further payments.
Suspicion arose among the society members, leading them to verify the documents with the concerned government authorities. It was revealed that the accused had fabricated the sale deed of land allegedly belonging to Shakunthala R, forged signatures of executants, the sub-registrar, and revenue officials, and even used fake office seals to create fraudulent documents for the loan. When Shakunthala R was contacted, she clarified that she had no knowledge or involvement in the transaction.
Following this, the branch general manager of the society, Modin D Khan, filed a complaint with Kapu police on January 3, alleging that the accused couple had defrauded the society by producing forged documents to obtain a loan of Rs 45 lac. Acting on the complaint, police launched a thorough investigation.
Disguised operation in Kerala
Tracing the accused required extensive effort, with investigations carried out in Bengaluru, Jamkhandi, and Kerala. It was eventually discovered that the couple was hiding in Kottakkal, Malappuram district, Kerala. A police team comprising crime division staff Rafiq, Raghu, and Mohan disguised themselves and closely monitored the couple’s movements for nearly a month. On August 12, after sustained surveillance, the police successfully apprehended the duo.
The accused were produced before court, remanded to police custody, and interrogated further, during which their wide network of fraudulent activities came to light. After completion of police custody, they were again presented before court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
More fraud cases unearthed
During interrogation, the couple confessed to obtaining Rs 45 lakh loan from Katapadi Cooperative Bank using forged documents. They had also taken Rs 18 lac from Bank of Baroda, Kaup branch, for a Kia car and later sold it using fake papers; availed a Rs 15 lac loan from Canara Bank, Arasikere, by creating fake documents after selling the car; cheated an individual of Rs 3.75 lac in Udupi town by promising a house on lease; obtained Rs 8 lac from Nutan Credit Cooperative Society by pledging a car; and secured Rs 13 lac from Udupi Industrial Cooperative Society for a Jeep Compass car, which they later sold in Bengaluru using fake records. In total, fraud amounting to Rs 1.02 crore has been unearthed.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of SP Hariram Shankar, Karkala ASP Dr Harsham Priyavada, and Kaup CPI Jayashree Mane. The team was led by Kaup SI Tejaswi T I and included crime division staff Rafiq, Raghu, and Mohan.