Bhatkal: A shocking case of fraud has emerged in Shirur, where an unidentified man posed as a representative of Bhatkal’s renowned century-old social organization, Majlis-e-Islah-wa-Tanzeem, and duped several women of lakhs of rupees by promising them interest-free loans.

The victims, while speaking to reporters in Bhatkal, recounted that around nine months ago the man had visited the home of a woman in Haduvinkone, Shirur, introducing himself as an executive member of Tanzeem. He claimed that the organization had a large fund through which interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh were being distributed to poor and needy families. However, he told them that applicants would have to pay ₹12,000 as a registration fee to avail of the loan.

Trusting his words, the woman registered herself and also convinced her relatives and acquaintances to do the same. In this way, 22 women from Shirur were lured into the scheme, collectively paying the fraudster ₹4,07,000.

When the women later asked for the promised loans, the accused allegedly gave them bogus bank cheques before disappearing. He has since gone incommunicado, no longer responding to phone calls. The victims eventually lodged a complaint at the Byndoor Police Station, demanding his immediate arrest and justice.

The women expressed anguish and anger over being deceived. “We are poor people. When he told us that Tanzeem was offering interest-free loans, we believed him. But instead, he looted us in the name of the Tanzeem,” one of the victims told reporters.

There is also suspicion that the accused may have carried out similar scams in other places apart from Shirur.

Tanzeem condemns fraud, demands strict action: Reacting strongly to the incident, Abdul Raqeeb M.J. Nadvi, General Secretary of Majlis-e-Islah-wa-Tanzeem Bhatkal, said the organization has never offered loans and has no such policy.

“Our organization does not have any provision for giving loans, nor does it possess the kind of funds to do so. The accused misused Tanzeem’s name to cheat innocent women, which is a serious crime and requires immediate legal action,” Nadvi stated.

He further said that the Tanzeem is consulting legal experts to initiate proceedings against the fraudster. He urged the police and administration to arrest the accused without delay, ensure strict punishment, and recover the victims’ hard-earned money.