Gandhinagar: The local crime branch of Gandhinagar police is investigating a strange case of cheating in the name of a minister.

A police officer today said that phone calls were made to at least 10 people in the name of Minister of State, Welfare of socially and educationally backward classes, Vasanbhai Ahir claiming that one of his close relative has met with an accident and he needed some money for payment of hospital expenses urgently.

The cheater had used a trick and save his own number in the name of the Minister in true caller app. When he made calls, his number appeared as that of Ministers which made the receivers believe that it was Ahir himself. They were given a bank account for transfer of money.

Lakhs of rupees have been transferred in this manner. The matter came to fore when one of the persons who had got the call made a call to the minister himself.

The PA to minister has lodged a complaint in sector 7 police station here after which the probe has been handed over to the LCB.

The official said that there could be even more victims of the fraud but the cheater would be nabbed soon.

DeshGujarat