Retired cop tries to get loan to buy MUV in Bengaluru, duped of Rs 6 lakh

Bengaluru: A retired policeman, who wanted to buy a Toyota Innova, allegedly lost Rs 6.3 lakh to a fraudster, claiming to be the agent of a reputed finance firm linked to the car showroom.KN Nandeshwarachar, 63, a resident of Vyalikaval, told police he approached Ravindu Motors Pvt Ltd in Rajajinagar on April 27 to purchase an Innova on loan. At the showroom, he reportedly met a person, identified as Murthy, near the loans section. Murthy provided him details of the procedure and advised him to contact finance agents linked to the showroom for quick processing of the loan. He provided the mobile number of an agent named Arun.Following the suggestion, the retired policeman called Arun, who promised to arrange a vehicle loan through the finance firm. After gaining his trust, Arun allegedly instructed him to transfer Rs 6.3 lakh through RTGS to a bank account belonging to “AARVIN IT EDGE PRIVATE LIMITED” in Patancheru, Telangana, to book the vehicle. Nandeshwarachar transferred the amount.However, when he visited the showroom again on May 15 to check the status of vehicle delivery, showroom staff informed him that no Innova was booked in his name and no loan was sanctioned by the finance firm.

When Nandeshwarachar tried contacting Arun on his mobile, the number was switched off.“When I visited the showroom on May 15, I didn’t find Murthy. The showroom staff said no such person works there. But I saw Murthy wearing an ID card and attending to me inside the showroom on April 27. How would I know he is a fraudster?” Nandeshwarachar asked.Police registered a case under Information Technology Act and BNS Section 318 (cheating) against Arun. The money transferred by Nandeshwarachar was transferred to an account in Kerala and then to Punjab by fraudsters. Efforts are on to freeze the accounts, a senior police officer said.