Hyderabad, October 31: A BSc graduate, who worked as an architect in Guntur, posed as an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and cheated several persons under the pretext of sanctioning them government projects and works.
The 33-year-old graduate, K Venkata Ratna Reddy alias Ratna Reddy alias K V R Reddy, is a native of Guntur district. After his degree, he took up the job of a building elevation designer. Then Ratna Reddy met with an accident and the doctors asked him to stay away from hard physical work.
“When he was bedridden, he drew inspiration from crime serials telecast on TV,” DCP Task Force V B Kamalasan Reddy said.
Ratna Reddy prepared a fake identity card under the fictitious name of K V R Reddy IRS, Superintendent, Commissioner For Departmental Inquiries (CDI), Central Vigilance Commission, Hyderabad and also prepared fake visiting cards, fake letterheads.
He also purchased a Hyundai i20 Car in Guntur and placed an Ashoka Emblem and wrote ‘Government Vehicle’ in red on the number plates complete the facade.
Posing as an IRS officer, he collected Rs 11 lakh from a person, Palnati Venkatram alias Bhismaji, promising a government project worth Rs 5 crore, the DCP said.
Similarly, he took Rs 4 lakh from P Balakrishore Reddy to settle a land dispute by using his ‘influence’ as an IRS officer.
Ratna Reddy also frequented various Government offices as an IRS officer ‘on deputation with the Central Vigilance Commission’ and sought favours.
Ratna Reddy was caught at Punjagutta and police seized an i20 car, air pistol, fake ID card of IRS, 300 fake visiting cards and letterheads from him.
–Agencies