Representative image | Photo: AFP
Kannur: The town police arrested a 71-year-old man who tried to commit fraud by producing an order in the name of the President of the country. He was remanded by the court but admitted to the district hospital due to chest pain. The culprit is identified as Kozhikode Eranhipalam native PPM Ashraf, a retired SBT official. Ashraf's brother Payyambalam native PPM Ummerkutty is the second accused in the case and he is absconding.
The Kannur Corporation secretary had issued a notice to Ummerkutty stating that a building owned by him in the Kannur Fort road should be demolished as it violates construction rules. However, Ummerkutty handed over a Presidential order to the Municipal Secretary stating that the Corporation had no authority to issue such a notice and the action was illegal. After reading the fake order, the secretary informed the police about the same.
Ummerkutty had earlier sent a copy of the order to the Additional Chief Secretary, Government Secretary and the Collector. This fake order entitled "Presidential Decree" stated that municipal rules passed without the authorisation of the cabinet are illegal and will not exist. Growing suspicious over this, ACP PP Sadanandan questioned Ummer Kutty's brother Ashraf and the fraud came to light.
Ashraf filed a complaint in the President's public complaint platform Citizen Portal and also uploaded a fake order from the President as a response to his complaint. With this, anyone who checks the website could see this answer. Ashraf told police that he was a constitutional expert and the president of the All India Citizens Forum. In further investigation, it was found that he was a bank employee.
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