Mysuru: Crime has a new name – Self Help!. Manjunath operated a  Rural Development Institute, a fake organisation which lured self help groups to deposit Rs 50,000 for various benefits. Five SHG’s in the city had deposited over Rs. 2, 50,000 before they realized he was absconding. He has been only recently arrested. Police also arrested one of his accomplices Shiva Reddy from Kolar.

Similar complaints have been registered in different police stations in Tumkur and Kanakapura and various other districts. The accused have been arrested several times in the past.

Police Commissioner Dayananda also said that he started the racket in Mysuru after victims in Kolar demanded repayment. Shivareddy and other victims from Kolar helped him with the Mysuru racket.

Manjunath is a school drop-out and has been running these rackets since 2011. He used to open offices, pose as a government official and lure SGH’s into paying him money. After the Mysuru scam, the accused was laying the foundation for the groundwork a similar racket in Anekal.

The police have seized over 10 sim cards, a car, letter pads, loan applications and other items.   Manjunath and Shivareddy who misguided several people in city by offering high interest for the Stree Shakthi and Women Empowerment groups in the city has been caught said Commissioner of Police B Dayananda.

He was speaking at the press meet held at Commissioner office on Monday said, ‘the criminal who hails from Udigere Hobali, Gundlammanakere Kodi Village, Tumkuru District is the son of Dabbaiah. He is involved in many criminal cases, not only in Mysuru city but also in Tumkuru, Turuvekere, Tipaturu, Kolara, Kyatasandra, Kanakapura and other places where he have entered Jail lot of time.

Shivareddy son of Srinivas Reddy from Kolara Village is in police custody and the remaining 3 people who were in the gang are still on the run. When the news about these frauds spread,  Manjunath and team had left the place and police are pursuing the rest, he said.