Former HC judge loses Rs 2.5 crore after conman promises electoral bonds to ‘fund party at centre’

In his complaint, Justice DSR Varma, former Judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court and High Court of Allahabad, has alleged criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, and also cheating etc.

According to him, one Narendran approached him and sought funds “to the party in the centre which will be acknowledged in the way of bonds”. Over some time in 2021, the judge’s family transferred a total of Rs 2.5 crore to Narendran.

According to the complainant, Narendran promised to “place me and my grandchildren in the US”. He added that one Sarath Reddy collected the money. The grandchildren were allegedly promised favours in return for the contribution, “out of regard for me as a former judge,” he said.

“The common grievance of my family, including me, is that despite collecting huge amounts no bonds have been issued to us despite my requests, nor any favour was done either to me or to my grandchildren in the US, which is not very relevant or significant…This is a clear violation of the recent judgement of the Supreme Court deprecating the collection of amounts by way of electoral bonds,” he said in the complaint.

Demanding action, the complainant said that the collection of Rs 2.5 crore from his family without the issuance of bonds despite repeated insistence meant that the amount was misappropriated by the duo. He has provided WhatsApp messages as proof of the financial transactions.

Film Nagar police said a case has been registered under Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust). “We have received a complaint and registered an FIR. The accused are persons known to the complainant. The incident happened a couple of years ago. We will have to examine the details and an investigation is on,” an officer told The Indian Express.