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OtherBengaluru teacher arrested for cheating woman of ₹1.5 crore over false MLC seat promise
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A 54-year-old woman from Mangaluru was cheated of ₹1.5 crore by a government school teacher who falsely claimed to be a journalist and Congress party media member. The accused, Sirigere Yerriswamy, along with associates Siddaraju and Basavaraju, promised to secure her a nomination to the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC). He claimed close links with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior AICC leader Randeep Singh Surjewala. The woman paid ₹1 crore to two associates and ₹5 lakh to another woman, and was taken to New Delhi on the pretext of meeting AICC leaders, where she was allegedly misbehaved with. When she demanded her money back, she was threatened. The Halasuru Gate police initially registered a Non-Cognisable Report (NCR), but after the complainant approached the court, the court directed the police to register an FIR and investigate. The alleged cheating occurred between 2024 and 2025, and the investigation is ongoing.
Source report
Published - July 29, 2026 07:07 pm IST By The Hindu Bureau
A school teacher, who also claimed to be a journalist, has been booked for allegedly cheating a 54-year-old woman from Mangaluru of ₹1.5 crore by falsely promising to secure her a nomination to the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC).
Based on the woman’s complaint, the Halasuru Gate police have registered an FIR against Sirigere Yerriswamy and his associates, Siddaraju and Basavaraju.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
According to the complaint:
- Yerriswamy introduced himself as a journalist and claimed to be a member of the Congress party’s media team.
- He allegedly convinced the complainant that he had close links with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior AICC leader Randeep Singh Surjewala.
- He assured her that he could get her nominated to the Legislative Council through the ruling Congress.
The complainant, who is associated with a social trust, stated that she first met Yerriswamy at Vidhana Soudha in 2024. He allegedly demanded ₹5 crore for securing an MLC nomination, which was later negotiated down to ₹1.25 crore.
Payments and Further Allegations
She alleged that, acting on Yerriswamy’s instructions:
- She handed over ₹1 crore to Basavaraju and Siddaraju.
- She paid another ₹5 lakh to a woman.
The complainant further alleged that Yerriswamy took her to New Delhi on the pretext of arranging a meeting with senior AICC leaders, where he allegedly misbehaved with her at a hotel.
She later realised that the promise of an MLC nomination was false. When she demanded the return of her money, the accused allegedly threatened her with dire consequences.
She later discovered that he was, in fact, a government school teacher.
Police Investigation
The police said the alleged cheating took place between 2024 and 2025, and the investigation is under way. Notices will be issued to the accused for questioning.
Initially, the Halasuru Gate police registered only a Non-Cognisable Report (NCR) based on the complaint. The complainant subsequently approached the court, which directed the police to:
- Register an FIR
- Investigate the allegations
- Submit a report by August 25
Following the court’s direction, the police registered the case and intensified the investigation.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Bengaluru school teacher booked for cheating woman of ₹1.5 crore over false MLC seat promise