Posing as chairman, man seeks money from NIT officials

Nagpur: Impersonating Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) chairman Manoj Kumar Suryawanshi, a yet-to-be-identified man asked retired and current officials of the civic agency to transfer money online for buying gifts. On learning about it, Suryawanshi lodged a complaint at Sitabuldi police station.
As per the August 14 complaint, the person sent messages using Whatsapp from mobile number 8431869099 which is not registered in the name of Suryawanshi. “The name of Bhojraj Kamlekar appears when one searches on True Caller,” Suryawanshi stated in the complaint.
Suryawanshi added that the SIM card was purchased in Karnataka as per details shown on True Caller. “But the number was used from Hyderabad when the WA messages were sent,” he said.
Suryawanshi told TOI that many officials — retired and serving — whose names appear on the NIT website received the message. “The person used a photo of me with past NIT chairman Sheetal Teli-Ugale as DP. My name was written below the picture. It was obviously done so that he could convince others that the number and request was genuine. I don’t know if the message went to officials from other government departments and individuals,” he said.
Sitabuldi police has not registered an FIR even six days after the complaint.