Fake Lokayukta office busted, law graduate held
A 30-year-old law graduate was arrested on Thursday on charges of running a fake Lokayukta office in Tikamgarh city of Madhya Pradesh for the past one year and extorting money from government officials.
Ramkumar Vishwakarma, son of a primary school teacher, set up a bogus Lokayutka office, posed as a sub-inspector of the anti-corruption ombudsman’s police, instituted fake inquiries and lodged FIRs against officials.
He even “closed” cases after extorting money from corrupt officials, said NS Rathore, the deputy superintendent of Lokayukta police in Bhopal.
The office of the state’s Lokayukta has special powers to act against graft-tainted government officials. The agency’s anticorruption drive had netted many bureaucrats. Vishwakarma exploited the officials’ fear of the Lokayukta to make money.
“A Patwari who was duped for ₹5 lakh complained against him. But we suspect there are several other victims who will come forward once they know he has been arrested. We are questioning him for more details,” Rathore said.
According to sources, Vishwakarma had good knowledge about the Lokayukta office and is well versed in official jargon, which prevents his targets from suspecting his credentials.
He used to drive an SUV with “MP government” written on it.
His office had two women working as his assistants for a salary of ₹15,000 and ₹20,000 a month.
“These two were duped, too. They were inducted after an interview and given appointment letters. They did all the paperwork, thinking they were working for the government. They and their family members were stunned when they learnt about the real Vishwakarma,” a source said. Investigating officials found fake Lokayukta IDs, seals, letterheads and other paraphernalia.
A computer has been seized, which police officers believe could reveal several details.
“The scale of the fraud has stunned us. We have received complaints of fraudsters posing as fake Lokayukta officers, but this is the first time we have come across a person who set up a Lokayukta office and duped people,” said Anil Kumar, director general of the Lokayukta police.
They are also looking for any accomplice who may have passed information on corrupt officials.