BENGALURU, MAY 27 

The Karnataka High Court directed the City police on Tuesday to open an investigation into a man who claims he was defrauded of over Rs 1 crore by a woman and her alleged accomplices under the guise of securing him employment at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The decision arose during a bail hearing for the accused, Vinutha ME.

The vacation bench, led by Justice Suraj Govindaraj, noted the "unusual nature" of the financial transactions involved, prompting the court to instruct the police to register a complaint against the complainant himself. The court outlined that the complainant, Sanjay N, alleged that he paid Rs 1.03 crore to Vinutha and others to obtain a graphic designer position at ISRO, yet claimed no job offer materialised.

According to Sanjay, in August 2024, Vinutha visited his home, convinced him of her connections, and collected Rs 37 lakh initially, later demanding an additional Rs 23 lakh in cash. The court is set to send a copy of its order to the ISRO Chairman, ensuring communication proof is submitted by the next hearing scheduled for 4 June.

While seeking bail, Vinutha's council described her as a homemaker and pointed out that co-accused had received bail. However, the court noted her history of criminal activity, labelling her a "habitual offender." The case will be revisited during the next court session.