Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia
Sullia, Nov 4: The court has sentenced three individuals found guilty of defrauding the public through a ‘benefit scheme’ operated under the names Shri Tatvamasi Charitable Trust (R) and Shri Tatvamasi Enterprises (R) in Sullia.
The convicted accused have been identified as K P Ganesh, Geetha K S, and Bharathi.
K P Krishnappa Gowda, Geetha Ganesh, N E Y Kamalaksha, and K Nagesh were acquitted due to lack of evidence, while the case against Shivaprakash was closed following his death.
In 2013, the accused had established the institutions in the Samruddhi Complex near Ambadadka, Vivekananda Circle, Sullia Kasaba village. On behalf of these institutions, they opened an electronics store at Gandhinagar, Sullia, and launched a benefit scheme. Through agents, thousands of people were enrolled as members, and crores of rupees were collected from the public.
The accused misappropriated a total of Rs 3,08,62,500, without providing any of the promised returns or goods to the scheme’s members.
A case regarding the fraud was registered at Sullia police station, and after investigation, a charge sheet was filed against eight accused persons.
The trial was held before senior civil judge and JMFC B Mohan Babu, who, on October 30, found the three accused guilty. On November 3, the court sentenced them to three years of simple imprisonment under IPC Section 406 read with 149, and an additional three years of simple imprisonment under IPC Sections 409 and 420 read with 149, along with a fine of Rs 10,000 each. In default of payment, they will undergo an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
Assistant public prosecutor Ramesh effectively represented the government in the case.