The Sadashivanagar police have arrested two women and a male accomplice working as clerks in the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on contract basis for allegedly embezzling nearly ₹1.94 crore meant for the 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, a staff member of the institution filed a complaint on November 1, alleging that two temporary secretarial assistants edited and manipulated approval orders, changed students’ bank account details, and diverted funds meant for travel advances into the accounts of their relatives and acquaintances.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered at the Sadashivanagar Police Station for criminal breach of trust, forgery, and cheating.
Acting on credible information, the police detained both women from their residences in Hesaraghatta and Yeshwanthpur on November 2. During interrogation, they allegedly confessed to the crime and revealed the involvement of a male accomplice. The duo were produced before the court on November 3 and remanded in police custody.
Investigators said the women admitted to diverting funds to 16 different bank accounts belonging to friends and relatives and had used the money to purchase plots, gold, and other valuables.
Following their statement, the police arrested the third accused, a man residing near Arakere on Bannerghatta Road, on November 9. He allegedly confessed to his role.
Between November 8 and 10, the police recovered assets worth around ₹1 crore, including two plots of land valued at ₹70 to ₹80 lakh, 121 gms of gold ornaments worth ₹15 lakh, ₹11 lakh in cash, and a car worth ₹10 lakh.
The two women have since been remanded in judicial custody, while the male accused remains in police custody. Further investigation is under way to trace the remaining funds and identify other possible beneficiaries, officials said.
Published – November 12, 2025 09:51 pm IST
