Bengaluru: A case of impersonation and financial fraud has come to light in the city, with Mysore Mercantile Company Ltd (MMCL) alleging that a group led by one Gagan N Deep posed as senior corporate social responsibility (CSR) officers of Infosys Ltd and cheated the commercial firm of Rs 6 crore.MMCL executive Sridhar, in his complaint on March 30, said the fraud was committed between Sept 1, 2025 and March 20, 2026. The accused are Gagan, Chetan, Tejas and others, who are currently untraceable.Police said Gagan allegedly introduced himself as the regional head (CSR) at Infosys and claimed to be reporting to senior company officers. He gained the confidence of MMCL and expressed interest in funding projects undertaken by its associated body — Heggunje Rajeeva Shetty Charitable Trust — in Bengaluru.To build credibility, the accused allegedly deployed a team posing as Infosys representatives to conduct field visits in Udupi, Mangaluru and other locations, reviewing the trust’s activities. Investigators said this helped create the impression of a formal due diligence process.The complainant was then persuaded to pay large sums as EMDs (earnest money deposits), which were projected as a prerequisite for securing CSR grants. Acting on these representations, MMCL transferred Rs 6 crore through multiple demand drafts to entities presented as authorised vendors, including Anitha Ventures and ANS Engineerings. Payments included Rs 1.7 crore, Rs 50 lakh, and Rs 75 lakh to Anitha Ventures across different dates, and several other transfers, including one of Rs 3.7 crore, to ANS Engineerings. In addition, Rs 30 lakh was allegedly handed over in cash through a driver near a hotel in Devanahalli, following instructions from the accused.Police said the accused also issued forged documents to reinforce the deception. These included a purported sanction letter dated Oct 21, 2025, allegedly from Infosys, and grant agreements in Jan 2026 for projects worth over Rs 350 crore. The agreements covered proposals for building 855 houses and setting up primary health centres across Karnataka.Suspicion arose when no funds were released despite repeated follow-ups. The accused subsequently became unresponsive, prompting the complainant to approach the cops.A senior police officer said a case has been registered under multiple sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including criminal breach of trust, cheating, impersonation, and forgery. “The accused have gone incommunicado and efforts are on to trace them,” the officer said.Police added that the complainant has submitted key documents, including copies of agreements, demand drafts, and communication records, which are being examined as part of the investigation.
