Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Apr 11: BJP MLA and former minister, S Suresh Kumar, who represents Rajajinagar constituency here in the state assembly, has received a letter, offering to confer on him doctorate from a university based in United Kingdom for social service, if he is prepared to shell out Rs 1.75 lac. The sender's name has been given as Kishore Bongale residing at Sangli, Maharashtra.
On Monday April 10, Suresh Kumar met director general of police (DGP), Rupak Kumar Dutta, and police commissioner, Praveen Sood, and filed complaints with them. The letter strangely mentions that DGP of Karnataka has been invited to participate as chief guest of the function being arranged to confer degrees. Dutta, it is said, was taken aback on being informed that his name has been mentioned by the fraudsters without even contacting him. The letter, which does not mention about the venue and time of the event, claims that chancellors of universities, some ministers, and dignitaries would be attending the programme.
"I got this letter when I was busy canvassing at Gundlupet constituency. As the name of DGP was mentioned as chief guest, I contacted him. As he said he does not know about the function, I personally met the DGP and commissioner to file complaint. Dutta said that he would look into the matter and register the case if found necessary," Suresh Kumar sated.
The letter warns Kumar that only 40 doctorates are pending to be finalized, and that they would be distributed on first come-first served basis. The programme it said, is being held on April 29, and if he wants video and photos, Kumar has been told, that he has to pay an additional Rs 7,000. A nomination form also has been enclosed to the letter. The rate for literary doctorate has been pegged at Rs 2.25 lac while that of philosophy at Rs 2.5 lac, as per the letter. Bank account details to which money can be remitted, have been provided therein.
Suresh Kumar has expressed the opinion that a racket of fraudsters that is trying to make money by offering the lure of doctorate degrees to gullible people for a price may be behind this letter.