Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Police on Monday detained the person, who had duped a government official, posing as an officer on special duty (OSD) to Panchyat and Rural Development Minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia.
The accused identified as Shekhar Patel had also taken Rs 25,000 as a ‘token’ amount from the victim government official. Police sources said that Patel, a resident of Bagh Sewania in Bhopal, has a contract to supply saplings for plantation programmes launched by the minister.
As he was a frequent visitor to minister’s official residence in Bhopal, he got acquainted with minister’s staff.
“During questioning, he confessed to have duped many people on the pretext of helping them in transfers. Rs 4 lakh have been found in his personal bank account,” said a senior police officer.
On June 1, Patel called Arti Chopra, district project manager in Seoni district and introduced himself as OSD to the minister. He told Chopra that a transfer list was to be released and if she wished to move somewhere else, she will have to pay Rs 25,000 as token amount.
The woman deposited the said amount in given account number. When the transfer list was not released, the victim tried to call him on his mobile number but it was switched off.
She later called OSD BK Shrivastava and inquired about the transfer. She was taken by surprise when Shrivastava told her no transfer list was to be released and he didn’t approach her for transfer.
Shrivastava approached Habibganj police station on Saturday and filed a complaint. City superintendent of police (CSP), Habibganj, Virendra said accused has been detained and is being interrogated.
