Serial extortionist faking accidents in Bengaluru strikes again

Bengaluru: A serial extortionist known for faking road accidents and targeting lone vehicle users — particularly senior citizens — has struck again in the heart of Bengaluru, weeks after skipping court hearings and going underground.
The suspect, Jameel Khan alias Saleem, 29, from Rajendra Nagar in Mysuru, had been arrested in Jan this year by Banashankari police for duping two motorists of more than Rs 1.5 lakh using the same modus operandi. He was remanded in judicial custody and released on bail after 40 days. Since then, police said, he has failed to appear in court, prompting them to initiate proceedings to cancel his bail.
On June 2, Khan resurfaced, this time targeting a 78-year-old businessman, M Chandrashekhar, on MG Road, while he was heading towards Anil Kumble Circle.
Near Trinity Circle, Khan's two-wheeler grazed the elderly man's car. Caught in heavy traffic, the latter chose not to stop, assuming it was a minor scratch.
But Khan later overtook him, blocked his car near Mayo Hall, and climbed into the vehicle, claiming that his brother had been seriously injured and needed hospitalisation. "He entered my car suddenly and accused me of injuring his brother's leg in an accident. He demanded Rs 1 lakh as compensation," Chandrashekhar told TOI.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya
IC Markets
Mendaftar
Undo
The incident occurred between 11.15am and 11.30am.
"He kept talking on the phone, instructing someone to call an ambulance, which added to the pressure. He was very convincing and aggressive," Chandrashekhar recalled.
Khan first snatched Rs 2,500 from Chandrashekhar's dashboard and then forced him to withdraw another Rs 3,000 from an ATM kiosk near Mayo Hall. The accused fled with the money soon after. Distressed and fearful, Chandrashekhar sought help from the staff at an MNC bank branch nearby, but no one came to his aid.
The victim later filed a complaint with Ashok Nagar police, who launched a search but couldn't apprehend the culprit.
How TOI report helped
It was an old TOI article that helped Chandrashekhar identify the crook. "When I shared the experience with a friend, he sent me a link to an earlier news report detailing his (Khan's) methods and had his photo. It was clearly the same man," he said.
Police records reveal a troubling history.
In Jan, Khan was booked after a 68-year-old resident of Jayanagar IV Block reported being extorted of Rs 1.1 lakh in a similar fashion. On the same day, police found that another person was cheated out of Rs 60,000, also by Khan. Both cases involved the same method: A fabricated accident and an urgent demand for compensation.
"Khan has been involved in at least 15 such cases across Mysuru, Maddur, Srirangapatna, Ramanagara, and Bengaluru since 2018.
He typically targets lone car occupants, especially senior citizens," said an investigating officer.
The incident has prompted police to issue a public advisory. "In such situations, don't panic. Call 112 immediately. A Hoysala patrol vehicle will respond within 10 minutes. Alternatively, drive to the nearest police station or flag down a patrolling officer for assistance," a senior officer said.
GFX (with P2-Khan mug shot)
A HABITUAL OFFENDER
* Jameel Khan alias Saleem, a 29-year-old from Mysuru, is a known extortionist who fakes road accidents to target lone motorists, especially senior citizens, in Bengaluru and nearby cities
* On June 2, he allegedly targeted a 78-year-old businessman on MG Road by staging a minor accident, forcefully entering the victim's car and demanding Rs 1 lakh as compensation
* Khan snatched Rs 2,500 from the car's dashboard and coerced the victim to withdraw an additional Rs 3,000 from an ATM before fleeing
* He had been arrested in Jan 2025 for similar crimes. He was released on bail after 40 days, and has since skipped court appearances, prompting efforts to revoke his bail
* Police link Khan to at least 15 similar extortion cases since 2018 across Mysuru, Maddur, Srirangapatna, Ramanagara, and Bengaluru

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Indian Express

43 minutes ago

• Indian Express

After Delhi man flags use of his PAN, Aadhaar cards for fraud, two linked to GST racket arrested: Cops

When Sumit, a resident of Sagarpur in Southwest Delhi, recently applied for a Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration number using his PAN card, he was shocked to discover that two GST numbers had already been fraudulently issued in his name. These registrations, he later claimed in a police complaint, were done without his knowledge or consent, and the firms operating under the GST numbers were allegedly conducting large-scale business transactions. He also told police that a SIM card had also been issued using his Aadhaar card credentials. An investigation into the case on Friday led to the arrest of two men who were allegedly involved in a large-scale GST fraud. Identified as Inderpal (45), a lawyer, and Sandeep (27), the accused were allegedly found to be systematically generating fake GST numbers using forged documents and later utilising these firms to issue fraudulent GST bills and facilitating fraudulent tax settlements, said police. During the investigation into Sumit's complaint, the police obtained detailed information from the Goods and Services Tax Department, which confirmed that two firms were indeed registered using his PAN details. Physical verification at the registered addresses revealed that the firms were fake, prompting the officers to ramp up surveillance and technical tracking. Further probe into the case led to the identification of Sandeep, who was eventually apprehended from his hometown in Chulkana in Haryana's Panipat. Upon questioning, he allegedly revealed that he was employed by Inderpal, an advocate from Northeast Delhi's Burari, and that he had been working with him for the past seven years. According to his statement, the duo procured GST registrations using genuine identity documents, such as PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, SIM cards, and rent agreements, belonging to their unsuspecting victims. Once the firms were acquired, they would log into the GST portal, update the contact details, including mobile numbers and email addresses, and then use these accounts to issue counterfeit GST bills. 'Thereafter, based on the technical analysis, Inderpal was traced in Kairana in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. He had absconded to Kairana after Sandeep's arrest. Inderpal was arrested in the case, and he was taken into police custody. During his sustained questioning, he disclosed that he used to procure GST firms from other associates located in Delhi for Rs 25,000-30,000 per firm. They also provided the login details and a SIM card. He also disclosed that the SIM cards were also provided by other members of the syndicate,' said DCP South West Amit Goel. The police recovered three smartphones, one laptop, and a pen drive from the possession of the accused, all of which were allegedly used in the execution of the fraud. These devices are now being forensically examined to trace the full extent of the operation and identify other members of the syndicate, said police. According to the police, Sandeep was allegedly responsible for operating the technical aspects of the fraudulent scheme, including the creation and uploading of fake bills. Inderpal, allegedly leveraging his professional status as a lawyer, handled procurement and coordination with outside associates. Their collaboration allegedly enabled them to run a seamless operation that posed a significant risk to the integrity of the GST system, said officers.

Time of India

an hour ago

• Time of India

'Every player speeds': Former NFL player Asante Samuel defends Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders amid speeding controversies

Shedeur Sanders (via Getty Images) Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is in the sights after being cited for two separate speeding infractions in June, calling his maturity and readiness for the NFL into question. But amid the criticism, one-time vocal critic of Deion Sanders and former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel stepped forward to openly defend the young quarterback, saying that Sanders is being targeted simply because of his surname. Shedeur Sanders' off-field problems ignite backlash—and surprising backing The month of June has not been working out well for Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but not for anything on the gridiron. Shedeur Sanders was cited twice for two different speeding offenses: once for driving 91 mph in a 65 zone on June 5 and again for going 101 mph in a 60 zone just days after. To make things worse, Shedeur Sanders allegedly failed to show up for the first offense court hearing. But amid all the criticism, there was one voice that emerged in defense of Sanders: ex-NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel. On social media, Asante Samuel delivered a simple refutation of the criticism levied at Shedeur Sanders. "Every player speeds," Asante Samuel wrote. "This is normal athlete behavior, but because his last name is Sanders, the haters want to bring as much negative attention as possible. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists: Losing a Hanging Tummy Comes Down To This 1 Thing Health Wellness Journal Watch More Undo I never seen a community want to tear a player down like we are witnessing." Asante Defends Shedeur Sanders Verbiage/Terminology Dispute Samuel's comments are especially compelling with his own past public feud with Deion Sanders, Shedeur's father and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. The two had a digital falling out in previous years but have since made amends, making Samuel's speaking out on Shedeur's behalf especially significant. Shedeur Sanders himself has already pushed back against the criticism, admitting his transgressions in an interview at tight end David Njoku's charity softball game. "I made some wrong choices personally, and I can own up to them," Sanders was heard saying on video, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "I made some, you know, not great choices… I learned." Also read: Cam Newton rips Saints' quarterback strategy, urges the team to chase Aaron Rodgers Shedeur Sanders' driving offenses have been a distraction in what is already a stressful first year with the Cleveland Browns. But they don't define his future. His duty and the surprising populist support of a player such as Asante Samuel show that Sanders does not lack his fans. It is to be seen how he handles adversity outside the game, which may be just as crucial to his long-term NFL career. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here

NDTV

an hour ago

• NDTV

Rs 100 Crore Fake GST Refund Scam Busted By CBI

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a major crackdown in a case involving bogus GST refund claims amounting to nearly Rs 100 crore, allegedly orchestrated through fake export bills. On Friday, the central agency carried out searches across seven locations in Bihar and Jharkhand, including Patna, Purnea, Jamshedpur, Nalanda, and Munger. According to the FIR, the scam involves senior officials of the Customs Department, including the then Additional Commissioner, Customs, Patna, Shri Ranvijay Kumar along with four other former Superintendents, some of whom are now serving as Assistant Commissioners. They allegedly, said the CBI, colluded with a private G-card holder, multiple exporter and importer firms, and unknown others to fraudulently claim tax refunds. The accused are alleged to have conspired to show fake exports of tiles and automobile parts through Land Customs Stations (LCS) at Bhimnagar, Jaynagar, and Bhittamore, said the agency. The documentation was purportedly used to fraudulently obtain GST refunds from the jurisdictional GST offices, the CBI added. During the searches, officials recovered 7 gold bars of 100 grams each, several incriminating documents, and mobile phones linked to the case. The CBI has registered a case under sections related to criminal conspiracy and corruption. Investigation is underway to trace the money trail and establish the full scale of the alleged fraudulent network.