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A 34-year-old man who wanted to be a policeman after being inspired by films decided to pose as one, only to be arrested in Bengaluru on Tuesday for allegedly cheating a person of Rs 1.75 crore. The police identified the accused as R Srinivas and said they seized three high-end bikes, including one BMW, worth Rs 23 lakh from his possession.
Srinivas, a resident of Chandra Layout in Bengaluru, worked as a graphic designer, the police said. Six months ago, he decided to pose as an IPS officer. He got a fake ID card and got clothes tailored to look the part, the police said. Posing as a probationary IPS officer, Srinivas allegedly travelled to cities across the state and duped people. He was also felicitated at several places by people who thought he was an IPS officer who would soon be posted in Bengaluru, the police said.
Srinivas was arrested after a person named Venkatnarayan approached the Thalagattapura police station saying he had been cheated of Rs 1.75 crore on March 6. The police team investigating the case zeroed in on Srinivas and learnt that he had been arrested in 2010 for stealing cars in Vijayanagar police limits.
According to the police, Srinivas met Venkatnarayan and claimed that he wanted to sell land in Mysuru worth Rs 450 crore for which he needed a loan of Rs 2.5 crore. Srinivas allegedly promised to repay Venkatnarayan and also assured him of good returns. Initially, Venkatnarayan paid him Rs 50 lakh, which Srinivas returned in December last year. Subsequently, Venkatnarayan gave him Rs 1.75 crore. But after collecting the money, Srinivas went incommunicado. After failing to contact him, Venkatnarayan approached the police.
A police officer said that Srinivas had a girlfriend and they enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. They spent money on hotels, partying, and buying high-end valuables, the police said.
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