NGO boss cheated of Rs 1.35 lakh
16 Dec 2008, 0545 hrs IST, Sibi Arasu

CHENNAI: The proprietor of a Thanjavur-based NGO on Monday lodged a
complaint with the suburban commissionerate, alleging that she had been
cheated of Rs 1.35 lakh by a man who promised her foreign funding.
Rajkumari, who runs the Woman Education and Development
Trust in Thiruvaiyaru taluk of Thanjavur district, alleged that she
had been conned by Venkatesh Kumar, an NGO worker based in Medavakkam.

She said she came into contact with Kumar through common friends and
he told her she could get foreign funding if she invested a small
amount. Subsequently, she handed over Rs 1.35 lakh to Kumar between
October 29 and November 7. Kumar, who runs Airmen Express Network
Foundation, told her he was working in various social awareness
campaigns and that he specialized in offering training to clear crops
of weeds such as parthenium.

Rajkumari collected the sum from various NGOs operating in her area
and acting as their representative handed it over to Kumar. He told
her that after she made the payment, he would put her in touch with
foreign benefactors willing to fund social groups in India. Kumar
allegedly went missing after the last transaction of funds. His office
in Medavakkam was also locked. The suburban police registered a case
of cheating and began investigations.



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