Even as Balaji alias Sukesh Chandrashekar, the partner of actress Leena Maria Paul who was arrested in Delhi recently, is absconding, the Bangalore police are following up on the most recent case registered against him in the city.
A cheating case was registered against Sukesh with the Vidhana Soudha police by Tamil Nadu-based Lion Dates. Police commissioner BG Jyothiprakash Mirji has handed over the case to the CCB. DCP (crime) D Devaraj said a team has been formed to nab Sukesh.
The complaint by P Ponnudorai, MD of Lion Dates, says that on January 11 this year, a person calling from mobile 09916725484 identified himself as Jayakumar, IAS, joint secretary to the Karnataka chief minister. He said the government wanted to purchase 5 lakh dates in 500 gm packs per month for a one-year contract worth Rs 7 crore, for distribution among school children and the blind.
“We trusted him and remitted Rs 80,000 in the name of Sukesh Chandrashekar, PAN AQAPL4131C, in account No. 1352110004510 in Andhra Bank, Kengeri branch,” the complaint said. The accused then asked the company to remit Rs 2.05 lakh as an ‘annual membership fee’.
When there was no response to a company email asking him to send the requirements on a proper government letterhead, Lion Dates asked him to return the amount paid. When Ponnudorai called him, Sukesh assured him the amount would be credited in the company’s account on January 28. On realising it had been duped, the company went to the police.
