Fraudster posing as Priyank Kharge’s assistant demands Rs 2 lakh bribe, extorts Rs 80,000

Team Udayavani, Oct 29, 2024, 10:42 AM IST

A case has been registered at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station against an individual accused of misusing the name of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge to extort money.

The accused, identified as Raghunandan, is alleged to have impersonated a close assistant and special officer of the minister. The complaint was filed by Nagaraj, a Special Duty Officer to the minister, who reported the incident, leading to the registration of the case. Police are actively searching for the accused, they said.

The incident took place on October 14 when Raghunandan reportedly contacted N. Kavya, an engineer with the Panchayat Raj Department under the Challakere sub-division, who was engaged in an official site inspection. Introducing himself as a close aide of the minister, he demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh, allegedly to assist with Kavya’s transfer. He then threatened her, eventually extorting Rs 80,000 through an online transaction.

Nagaraj’s complaint urges authorities to take legal action against Raghunandan. Police investigations are underway to locate and apprehend the suspect.