A 34-year-old conman who allegedly cheated over 15 women by claiming to be a NASA scientist and convinced them to invest in his business venture has been booked for creating a ruckus at the office of the Karnataka State Commission for Women. According to the police, he threatened and abused the women he had conned during a proceeding before officials.
Chairperson Nagalakshmi Bai filed a complaint on Wednesday with Halasuru Gate police. In her complaint, she said that the accused, Praveen (35), claimed to be a scientist at NASA and an inventor. He allegedly convinced the women to invest in his firm with promises of good returns. “As many as 15 women in and around the city invested money ranging from ₹4 to ₹13 lakh,” said the police.
When they realised that he had cheated them, they filed a complaint with the police as well as with the Commission. On May 10, Praveen and his brother Prashanth appeared at the Commission office to depose and started misbehaving with the woman when they confronted him. “He abused and threatened them started recording them during the proceeding,” said the police.
Based on the complaint, the police have charged the duo for outraging the modesty of women and criminal intimidation.