Bengaluru: A man from Sullia in Dakshina Kannada, was arrested by the Jnanabharati police on Friday, January 11, for allegedly conning several women of lakhs of rupees.
Praveen (34) claimed to be a scientist and inventor from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and allegedly duped 10 women into investing in his company ‘Simply Science’, which he started in 2013.
According to police, Praveen gained popularity by giving speeches and talks at science expos, through ‘Simple Science’, and was even invited to speak at several schools in Bengaluru.
“Praveen had invented one item, a four-in-one compass, which has all the four geometrical instruments in a simple box in one device. He would tell people he has been an inventor since high school and get them to fund science expos and workshops,” said the police.
Police added that Praveen had recently married a woman from Dakshina Kannada and had moved to Sullia.
Bengaluru resident Leela had initially approached Annapoorneshwari Nagar Police in September last year, but no FIR was registered. Later, she approached Additional Commissioner of Police (West) B K Singh, who directed the Jnanabharati Police to register an FIR.
“It was a jurisdictional problem. ‘Simply Science’ is located at Nagarbhavi in Annapoorneshwari Nagar, and Praveen had duped nine other women from Tumakuru, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Chennai as well,” the police said.
Speaking to TOI, the police said, “Praveen had agreed to return the money when he was summoned for questioning at Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station. Also, since it was not a jurisdictional matter, the police made him write cheques. But later the cheques for Rs 27 Lakh bounced.”
Picture Courtesy: The News Minute