Date:02/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/02/stories/2007060218920400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BMTC driver held for issuing fake bus passes

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Central Crime Branch staff on Thursday arrested a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus driver on charges of creating and selling fake daily bus passes. They seized from him 4,568 fake passes worth Rs. 1.14 lakh.

The police said B. Govindaiah (48), a resident of Preetinagar in Laggere, was attached to BMTC's Depot 13. He was working as <129>driver-cum-conductor on route number 222 A (Kengeri Satellite Town to Kempe Gowda bus station). Govindaiah of Kanakapura in Bangalore Rural district joined the corporation as a driver in 1992.

The police said Govindaiah had got fake passes printed through his friend Mohan of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu.

He used to sell the passes of Rs. 25 denomination to commuters in his bus and rake in around Rs. 1,500 daily.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (CCB) Ramesh Chandra told The Hindu on Friday that Govindaiah had been selling the fake passes for the past six months.

The police have informed the BMTC authorities of the fraud. Investigations are on to ascertain the total loss of revenue he had caused to the BMTC, the officer said. The police are on the lookout for Mohan.

Commits suicide

Gayatri (25), who worked as a nurse in a private nursing home in Nelamangala, committed suicide on Friday by injecting poison into her body.

According to the police, Gayatri was dejected in life as her fiancé Ravi allegedly demanded her family to immediately give him Rs 50,000. Gayatri was engaged to Ravi, a resident of Birur, recently and the wedding date was also fixed. The police said that Gayatri's family had agreed to pay a dowry of Rs. 90,000 and 70 gm of gold to Ravi. Gayatri has left behind a suicide note claiming that she was responsible for her death and none could be blamed for it. The Nelamangala police have registered a case and investigation is on.

Killed

Syed Ali (22) was killed on the spot when a goods vehicle knocked down his bicycle on ITPL Road, near Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences women's hostel, around 10 p.m. on Thursday.

The police said Ali of Mangalore was working in private company here. The K.R. Puram traffic police have registered a case.

Santosh is battling for his life at M.S. Ramaiah Hospital, the police said.

Suicide

An unidentified man aged around 30 committed suicide by throwing himself in front of Bangalore-Chennai Shatabdi Express on Friday.

The police said the incident occurred near Hoodi Gate while the train was on its way to Chennai.

Arrested

The Rajajinagar police have arrested Aditya (24) of Tirthahalli taluk in Shimoga district on the charge of murdering Narasimha Murthy (45), a security guard of Gayathrinagar Park here on May 16.