Karnataka: Fake traffic police extorting fines through UPI arrested in Bengaluru
Three impersonators of Bengaluru traffic police were arrested for extorting fines using the identity card of a deceased ASI. Ranjan Kumar, with Ismail Ali and Shabir Mallick, used mobile apps and the transport department's data to collect fines via QR codes. They deceived over 100 people before being apprehended by the Central Crime Branch.
 )
FollowThree individuals impersonating traffic policemen were arrested for extorting fines from unsuspecting citizens under the guise of Bengaluru traffic police. The Central Crime Branch (CEN) police station of the North-East Division apprehended Ranjan Kumar, Ismail Ali, and Shabir Mallick from Kolkata, West Bengal, confiscating ₹1 lakh from their account. Authorities are on the lookout for two additional suspects who remain at large.
The scheme came to light when the traffic police received reports of individuals using the identity card of a deceased Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) to collect fines. The son of the late ASI, Bhaktaram, complained after discovering the fraud. Acting on this, a team led by Inspector Mallikarjun conducted an investigation using technical intelligence, which led to the arrest of the accused in Kolkata.
Bengaluru woman falls victim to scratch card scam, losing Rs 18 lakh! Here’s how to stay aware
Modus operandi
Ranjan Kumar, who moved to Bengaluru for banking training five years ago, stumbled upon the online traffic fine payment system used by the city's police. Seizing the opportunity, he quit his bank job and started impersonating a police officer to extort money. He found the ID card of the deceased ASI Bhaktaram online and used it to create a fake ID under the name Kumaraswamy.
Using mobile apps and information from the transport department's website, Kumar collected details of vehicle owners with pending fines. Posing as Kumaraswamy, he called these owners, threatening to confiscate their vehicles if fines were not paid. He would then send a QR code link via WhatsApp for the payment, which was deposited into his bank account.
NIA arrests Andhra techie in connection with Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast case
To facilitate the fraud, Kumar opened bank accounts under different names with the help of Ali and Shabir. When victims paid the fines, the money was deposited into these accounts. Ali and Shabir, who respectively operated a Xerox shop and a cyber centre, transferred the collected funds to Kumar after taking a commission.
The trio managed to deceive over 100 people, with individual amounts ranging from ₹100 to ₹500. Many victims did not report the fraud due to the small sums involved. So far, two cases have been officially registered.
Mysuru tragedy: Family of four dies in sleep due to suspected cylinder leak
Mastermind was an MBA
Ranjan Kumar, the mastermind, holds an MBA and has prior experience working in a private bank. His associates, Ismail Ali and Shabir Mallick assisted him in the fraudulent operations.
The Bengaluru police have urged citizens to be cautious and verify the authenticity of such calls before making any payments. They are also working diligently to capture the remaining suspects and bring them to justice.
subscribe to Asianet Newsable WhatsApp channel by clicking here.For more reliable and latest news
subscribe to Asianet Newsable Telegram channel by clicking here.
