Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (MS)
Puttur, Feb 3: Interference of brokers in the distribution of compensation for people who have given their land for the construction of four- lane Mangaluru - Bengaluru national highway (NH) 75, is confirmed now. An incident of this kind has come to light in which an illiterate woman was duped by a broker to the tune of Rs 4.3 lac.
A lady, resident of Bollaru in Nekkilady village is the innocent victim of this incident. She works as a coolie. She was living in Bollaru with her son. Her land was acquired for the NH widening work. The government had deposited an amount of Rs 5.20 lac in her bank account in Corporation Bank, Uppinangadi branch on August 5, 2016.
Deceit in the name of help
This illiterate woman needed someone's help in order to withdraw the money from the bank. Local resident Satish utilized this opportunity and accompanied the lady to the bank and withdrew Rs 50,000 and gave the same to her. He further withdrew an amount of Rs 44,200 and gave to the lady on December 17 and lied to her that this is the only amount that belongs to her and the rest amount of the compensation is given as the bribe to the officers.
The woman, though illiterate, did not believe in what Satish told her and kept on enquiring about this with several people since one year but did not get justice. At last she went to the Uppinangadi police station seeking help.
SI Nandakumar turns Good Samaritan
Uppinangadi police sub-inspector (SI) Nandakumar, who spoke to the woman in detail, came to know that the lady was taken for a ride. He asked Satish to report to the police station immediately. On inquiry, the incident took a new turn. It came to light that an officer of the National Highway Authority, who is presently under suspension, is also involved in this case.
The fraudsters who were taken aback by the quick action of the police, returned Rs 4.3 lac of the lady immediately. The victim did not register any complaint against Satish, the person who duped her, for the only reason that he had helped her in order to get all the documents related to her property done. That is why the SI did not register any complaint and took only an undertaking from the accused and let them go.
Action of SI lauded by public
The action of Uppinangadi station police sub-inspector Nandakumar is appreciated by one and all in this incident in which the lady got her money back within 24 hours. It is the model operation of the SI that made the tricksters to panic and return the money within no time. A post is going viral regarding this matter on social sites also.
Nandakumar said, "I called the broker for inquiry as soon as I came to know that the gullible woman was taken for a ride. I gave warning to the accused after I got the complete picture of their modus operandi. So the incident is resolved now in an amicable manner,”
More fraud to be unearthed?
In order to widen the national highway between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, the land was acquired on both the sides of the existing highway. As the government gave twice the price than expected by the landowners, there was no conflict during the acquisition of the land. However, the role of brokers and concerned highway authority officials in deceiving the mostly illiterate land owners is highly suspected.
It has come to light during the inquiry that certain knowledgeable individuals have taken advantage of the situation in appreciating the value of the land by dubious means and have swindled money from the landowners. A high-level investigation is required in order to bring out all the misdeeds that have taken place in this project, say some locals.