Kitty party scam: Bengaluru professor arrested for impersonating advocate and obstructing cops at police station

Bengaluru: A 55-year-old PU college professor was arrested on charges of posing as an advocate and fighting with on-duty police officials inside a police officer's chamber recently. The accused is identified as A Yoganand, a resident of Nandini Layout. According to the police, he is a professor at a private college.

The incident took place inside the office of the assistant commissioner of police (ACP) of Vijayanagar sub-division, located on the premises of Basaveshwaranagar police station. Police were questioning an accused identified as G Savita, who was arrested on charges of duping her ‘kitty party friends' to the tune of at least Rs 5 crore, under the pretext of getting cheaper gold from abroad or securing higher returns for their investment. Savita was taken into police custody for further questioning.

While the police were questioning her at the ACP's office, Yoganand, dressed in plain clothes, barged in, claiming that he was Savita's counsellor. He questioned the police on the grounds for Savita's arrest and sought more details of the case. "As he went on questioning, he saw the house keys of Savita placed on the table among other seized materials. Without permission or asking anyone, he grabbed the keys and started moving. One of the women police officers tried to stop him, but he shouted at her," a senior police officer said.

By then, police inspector Subramani K, attached to Govindarajanagar, and his staff, who had dropped into the ACP's office, saw Yoganand and enquired about the issue. "Subramani had worked as a police sub-inspector at Basaveshwaranagar station a few years back when Yoganand had appeared at the station on alleged charges of beating up a senior citizen. Subramani immediately identified him and confirmed that he was not an advocate," the senior police officer said.

Quickly, senior police officials were alerted. Accordingly, Basaveshwaranagar police booked Yoganand for impersonating an advocate and obstructing the police from discharging their duties. He was arrested and produced before the court, which granted him bail.

"Yoganand is a high schoolmate and a a long-time friend of Savita. After learning the news of her arrest through media, he came to police station. But why he claimed to be an advocate and tried to take away Savita's house keys, we have to question him about it," the police said.