Man Held for Posing as Karnataka Minister’s Aide in Job Scam

A 36-year-old man, Raghunath, was arrested in Mysuru on Friday for impersonating the personal assistant of Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa and defrauding people with false promises of government jobs and transfers. The scam, which ran for six months, targeted desperate job seekers across the state, exploiting their aspirations for financial gain.

Following a complaint lodged by the Congress party, the Shivamogga Police registered a case under sections 318(4), 319(2), and 336(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Jayanagar Police Station, charging Raghunath with cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy. The son of a retired government official, Raghunath allegedly leveraged his familiarity with administrative systems to pose as a trusted aide, collecting substantial sums by promising positions and transfers in the education department.

The investigation, led by the Jayanagara Police, traced Raghunath to Mysuru, where he was apprehended on August 22 after a tip-off from a victim who grew suspicious of unfulfilled promises. Shivamogga SP G.K. Mithun Kumar confirmed that Raghunath contacted victims via phone, claiming proximity to the minister, and collected payments ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. “He exploited the trust people place in government job opportunities,” Kumar told reporters.

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Raghunath was produced before a court on Saturday and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. Police recovered documents and mobile phones used in the scam, with ongoing efforts to identify the full extent of victims, estimated to number in the dozens across Karnataka. The case has sparked outrage, with posts on X condemning such frauds and urging stricter verification of job offers.

This incident follows a similar case in July 2024, where a Mysuru man, Suresh, was arrested for posing as the Chief Minister’s aide, highlighting a recurring issue of impersonation scams in the state. Authorities have advised job seekers to verify offers through official channels to avoid falling prey to such frauds.

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