AP GETS 3 FAKE CM RELIEF FUND CHEQUES

The Andhra Pradesh revenue department has lodged a complaint with police against unidentified persons who tried to withdraw `117.15 crore from banks using forged cheques purportedly issued by the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). Thullur deputy superintendent of police Y. Srinivasa Reddy registered a case on Sunday based on the complaint filed by P. Murali Krishna Rao, assistant secretary, revenue.

According to Rao, the banks had received three cheques from different states. Bank officials inquired about the cheques with the department and stopped the payment after finding them to be forged.

The first forged cheque,

(694499) for `52.65 crore, was drawn in favour of Advaitha V.K. Hollow Blocks and Interlock and presented at Mangaluru in Karnataka on September 9. Another cheque (792896) for

`39,85,95,540 was presented by Sharma Forging in Delhi on September 7 and the third cheque (792893) for `24.65 crore was in favour of Mallabpur People Rural Development Society in Magrahat of West Bengal on September 14.

Generally, the revenue department issues cheques of small amounts from CMRF to the poor for the purpose of medical reimbursement and financial assistance. When the cheques for huge sums were presented at the banks for payment, it raised the suspicion of the bank officials. Rao said cheque 694499 was issued in favour of K. Rataiah for

`16,000 on November 8, 2019,

792896 was for `45,000 in favour of K. Hymavathi of Reddygudem, and the third cheque was issued in favour of P. Ramya Sri of Ibrahimpatnam on June 29, 2020.