Close on the heels of the MUDA cheating scam, a similar scam has been reported in Ramanagaram district. A sum of Rs. 9.9 crore is unaccounted for in the Ramanagaram-Channapatna Urban Development Authority (RCUDA).
The incident came to light on Tuesday night with RCUDA Planning Cell Director Vyshali filing a complaint with the Ijur police.
It is suspected that RCUDA Commissioner M. Chidananda is involved in the scam. According to the Ramanagaram police, Mr. Chidananda has been absconding after three persons, including MUDA Commissioner H.S. Shivaramu, were arrested in connection with the MUDA cheating case on Tuesday.
According to Ms. Vyshali, the RCUDA had deposited Rs. 9.5 crore in Vijaya Bank’s Ramanagaram branch and Rs. 40 lakh in ICICI Bank’s Malleswaram branch in Bangalore.
Mr. Chidanand, however, withdrew the money stating that he would deposit the cash in Indian Bank’s Mandya branch, she said.
After the accused were arrested in the MUDA cheating case, RCUDA personnel contacted Indian Bank officials. However, they were shocked to find out that no cash had been deposited there, a police officer in Ramanagaram told The Hindu .
Special team
As the modus operandi is similar to the one in the MUDA cheating case, the Ramanagaram police sent a special team to Mandya on Wednesday night.
“We are in constant touch with the Ramanagaram police,” Superintendent of Police Borase Bhushan Gulabrao told The Hindu .
The Ramanagaram police are contemplating questioning Mr. Shivaram and the other two arrested.
Police are on the lookout for Mr. Chidananda.
Protest
Meanwhile, several Kannada activists were arrested in Ramanagaram on Wednesday on the charge of vandalising the RCUDA office on the Bangalore–Mysore Highway.
According to the police, soon after news of the scam flashed on television channels, the activists barged into the office and damaged furniture and other property.
They also allegedly prevented RCUDA officials from discharging their duties.
According to eyewitnesses, the activists raised slogans against Mr. Chidananda and urged the government to hand over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department.
