This 'customs officer's' dream run ends in prisons

Hubballi police arrest one for impersonation and in cheating cases The arrested would "promise" gullible businessmen of helping them "sell" articles confiscated by the department He had his identity card, a uniform and shoes to match his profile

This man posed as superintendent of Customs and Central Excise and allegedly duped at least half a dozen businessmen across Karnataka and Maharashstra with a promise to "earn returns" from the items confiscated by Customs officials. But, his impersonation act did not last long as he landed in the police net. Hubballi city police arrested Siddappa Shivalingappa Patil (58), a native of Hutagi in Maharashtra for cheating businessmen, reports News Karnataka.

Siddappa had the knack of making gullible businessmen believe that he was a customs officer, who could help the businessmen, when in need. In fact, he had an identity card and a uniform to make the picture-perfect. What more, he also had various government papers and certificates with the seal. But all were fake. It is reported that Patil had approached a businessman in Hubballi allegedly promising to get him permission from the government to trade articles confiscated by customs officials.

But suspecting fishy, the businessman approached the police and lodged a complaint against Patil. In his complaint, he had said that Patil had promised him that he could help sell the articles confiscated by the department at a lesser price. So far, Patil collected Rs 8 lakh in instalments from the businessman. In return, Patil handed over letters with fake government seal and signature, reports News karnataka.

The police picked up Patil from a hotel and seized a car worth Rs 8 lakh. Besides, they have also seized Rs 1.05 lakh in cash, a set of police uniform, handcuff, ID cards along with fake documents and government seals. The police have also taken two of his associates Shyam Kambade (30) and Ramesh Malagi (42), also the residents of Hubballi.