The Sadashivanagar police have arrested two women and a male accomplice working as contract clerks at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for allegedly embezzling nearly ₹1.94 crore meant for students’ travel fund by forging official approval documents.
The accused have been identified as V. Soundarya, 25, R. Deepika, 25, Sachin Rao, 25.
According to police, an employee of the institution filed a complaint on Nov. 1 alleging that two temporary assistant secretaries edited and tampered with authorization orders, changed student bank account information and diverted travel deposit funds to the accounts of their relatives and acquaintances.
Based on the complaint, a case of criminal breach of trust, forgery and cheating was registered at the Sadashivanagar police station.
Acting on credible information, the police arrested the two women from their residences in Hesaraghatta and Yeshwanthpur on November 2. During the interrogation, they allegedly confessed to the crime and revealed the participation of a male accomplice. The pair were produced in court on November 3 and placed in a police cell.
Investigators said the women admitted to diverting the funds to 16 different bank accounts belonging to friends and relatives and using the money to buy land, gold and other valuables.
Following their statement, police arrested the third accused, a man residing near Arakere on Bannerghatta Road, on November 9. He reportedly confessed to his role.
Between November 8 and 10, the police seized assets worth around ₹1 million, including two plots of land worth ₹70,000 to ₹80,000, 121 g of gold ornaments worth ₹15,000, ₹11,00,000 in cash and a car worth ₹10,000.
Both the women have since been remanded in judicial custody, while the accused man remains in police custody. Further investigations are underway to trace the remaining funds and identify other possible recipients, officials said.
Published – 12 Nov 2025 21:51 IST
