Bengaluru: A 28-year-old man posing as an IAS officer was arrested for allegedly duping a medical shop owner of Rs 41 lakh by promising a lucrative govt contract to supply medicines to primary health centres (PHCs) under the National Health Mission (NHM).The accused, Mithun KS, a resident of Chikkamagaluru, allegedly gained the trust of the victim, Satish GR, 55, who runs a medical and general store, ‘Shreyas’, near the post office in Kote Chikkamagaluru.According to police, Mithun was introduced to Satish about three months ago by district surgeon Dr Chandrashekar, who frequently visited a Shreyas clinic behind the shop. Mithun, who occasionally accompanied the doctor, was presented as an IAS officer working at Arogya Soudha in Bengaluru and in charge of Chikkamagaluru district. The doctor allegedly told Satish that Mithun could facilitate a govt order for supplying medicines to PHCs. After gaining his confidence, Mithun, claiming to be a probationary officer, promised to secure a supply order worth Rs 1.8 crore and demanded a 20% commission upfront. He asked Satish to pay Rs 36 lakh, which was allegedly handed over on Jan 18 near Jakkur Aerodrome in the presence of the doctor. When no order materialised even after two weeks, Mithun reportedly demanded an additional Rs 5 lakh, which Satish transferred to his bank account. Mithun then told him the order would take two to three months. However, months passed with no progress.Satish made enquiries with health department sources and checked at Arogya Soudha, only to discover that Mithun was not an IAS officer. Realising he was cheated, he approached police. Amruthahally police registered a case under BNS Sections 318 (cheating) and 319 (cheating by personation) on April 11 and arrested Mithun. An officer said Mithun frequently impersonated IAS and IPS officers, as well as other professionals. He allegedly used photographs with bureaucrats and politicians to claim proximity and gain people’s trust before cheating them.
