Mysore/Mysuru: Miscreants in the guise of RBI officers have cheated a farmer to the tune of Rs. 5.25 lakh by promising to give three times the money.

The farmer, who has been cheated, is 36-year-old B.V. Santosh Kumar, a resident of Bommanahalli village in Chintamani taluk of Chikkaballapur district.

Santosh received a call from Mob: 85198-84336 and the person on the other end introduced himself as Satish alias Rajanna, the driver of RBI officer Sagar. Satish, who used to call Santosh regularly, befriended him and told him that he would help him develop his (Santosh) poultry farm.

Satish then told Santosh that a large quantity of black money which were seized during raids by Income Tax Department officials was with RBI officer Sagar who was trying to convert it into white. He then told Santosh that he would give him three times the money he gives and to make him believe Satish had sent a 50 seconds video showing hoards of cash on Sept. 27.

When Santosh believed the video, Sagar and Satish summoned Santosh to Sri Vardhaman Palace Lodge near Majestic Bus Stand in Bengaluru on Oct. 2 and held talks with Santosh. They told Santosh that what they had was black money and not fake currencies. They then told Santosh that whatever quantity of money he gives them, they would deposit three times the quantity to his Bank account.

Believing them, Santosh, on Oct. 16, came to a lodge near Sangam Talkies in city where Sagar and Satish were staying and gave them Rs. 5.25 lakh cash. Sarag and Satish, who received the cash told Santosh that they would get his three times more money and left the room but did not return. When Santosh called them over the phone, they told him that due to Dasara rush, they would bring the money in a few minutes and later Satish’s mobile phone was switched off.

Later, Satish called Santosh from a different number and told him that he would get the cash in a few minutes. Suspecting something fishy, Santosh told Satish that he did not want three times more cash and told him to return the money he had given. But from 8 pm on Oct. 29, his mobile phone was switched off.

On Nov. 4, Santosh lodged a complaint at Chintamani Rural Police Station. As the incident had taken place in Mysuru, Chintamani Rural Police have transferred the case to Lashkar Police Station. Lashkar Police, who have registered a case on Dec. 29, are investigating.