Man arrested for cheating actor, others

BENGALURU: A man was arrested in multiple cheating cases targetting innocent people, from a swamiji to a film actor. The accused Venkatesh also cheated a Sandalwood actor and RJ Rohit.

People who believed that  Venkatesh was a an influential leader are now filing complaints one after another with the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police. Venkatesh is said to be involved in a multi-crore fraud.

Those who got caught in bank loans and those who gave money on interest were among his victims. one of them, Surendra Reddy, a resident of Murugesh Palya, had his house put up for auction after failing to repay a bank loan. Surendra Reddy was introduced to Venkatesh through friends.

Venkatesh also targeted actor RJ Rohit to give a loan a loan of Rs 1.60 crore to Surendra and promised that an extra Rs 21  lakh would be given to him in cash.

Surendra Reddy agreed and took the loan, then mortgaged his house with a private bank and took another loan. Meanwhile, Rohit Patel tried to get back his money.

Venkatesh, who had kept money for himself, threatened Surendra Reddy to deposit the money into the account he specified, and Surendra Reddy deposited Rs 1.60 crore into that account. After that he gave an additional Rs 21 lakh in cash. Then, Rohit asked Surendra Reddy to return money. Surendra Reddy said he had already deposited the money into the account Venkatesh mentioned, but Rohit said he never received any money.

Rohit asked Surendra why he hadn’t received the money and Surendra went to Venkatesh’s house to ask for it. Venkatesh threatened him saying that he had been a rowdy for 40 years and that no one should come near him, and also threatened Rohit. Rohit also asked Venkatesh for his money, but Venkatesh cheated him and didn’t give it.

Now Surendra and Rohit have filed complaints with the CCB. An FIR has been registered in Surendra’s name. Following the complaint, the CCB police arrested Venkatesh. They also seized the Toyota Fortuner car that Venkatesh was using. Meanwhile, Rohit and Surendra, having lost their money, are checking with the CCB.