Date:20/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/20/stories/2008102059060500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Conman admits to cheating Karnataka Ministers

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: A conman, who was arrested on Saturday on charges of duping politicians, government officials and businessmen, told police that he cheated two Karnataka Ministers – Gali Janardhan Reddy and B. Sriramulu.

M. Raju Balavenkata Subramaneswara Sharma (28) of East Godavari district tricked five legislators and Ministers into parting with lakhs of rupees. The victims included Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy and Congress MLA K. Venkat Reddy from Nalgonda.

Sharma allegedly used to ring up MLAs or Ministers claiming that he was a legislator from Burugupudi constituency. He would tell them concocted story that his daughter lost money in journey or her house being burgled and request them to deposit money in her bank account assuring to repay it soon. He would withdraw the amount and disappear.

His wife Deepika, sister-in-law Malavika, brother-in-law Rakesh Reddy and brother Sunder Rao were also involved in the offences.