In a shocking case of impersonation and fraud, Bengaluru police have arrested a man who posed as a senior journalist and the president of the Karnataka Press Club Council. The accused allegedly swindled a substantial sum of Rs 20 lakh from a homemaker by promising her plum positions and a role in an international cultural festival.
The Airport Arrest and the Complaint
The accused, identified as Shivakumar Nagara Navile from Amarajyotinagar in Vijayanagar, was apprehended by the police at Kempegowda International Airport on November 27, 2025. He was attempting to board a flight to Muscat when authorities, acting on a lookout notice, took him into custody. The arrest followed a formal complaint lodged by the victim, Meenakshi B, a 51-year-old resident of Mico Layout on Hongasandra Main Road, on November 13, 2025.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Meenakshi first met Shivakumar in early 2024. He presented himself as a powerful figure and offered her the prestigious post of woman president of the Karnataka Press Club Council. Additionally, he dangled the opportunity for her to become the director of the second edition of the World Kannada Habba, a prominent Kannada cultural festival held overseas.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
To initiate her supposed appointment, Shivakumar first collected Rs 11,000 from Meenakshi as a membership fee. This initial payment opened the floodgates for a series of further financial demands. The accused cited various expenses, including costs for booking an auditorium in Singapore for the World Kannada Habba and arranging flight tickets for guests attending the event.
"I later found out that he had received Rs 20 lakh from the government and Rs 15 lakh from the chief minister's fund for the celebrations, yet he never repaid me," Meenakshi stated in her complaint. Despite her payments, the demands did not stop. She alleged that Shivakumar later asked for an additional Rs 25 lakh, promising her a place on stage during the celebrations and claiming her previous dues would be adjusted against this new amount.
In a desperate bid to secure the promised positions and recover her earlier investment, Meenakshi revealed she had to take extreme measures. She pledged her gold jewellery and used savings earmarked for her father-in-law's medical treatment. She did participate in the World Kannada Habba in Singapore in November 2024, but after the event, Shivakumar cut off all communication.
Threats, Wider Fraud, and Police Action
When Meenakshi began demanding the repayment of her money, the situation turned threatening. She reported receiving intimidating messages from the accused. The police investigation that followed uncovered a more extensive pattern of deception. Authorities discovered that Shivakumar had allegedly defrauded multiple other victims, including some government officials, using similar tactics.
After the FIR was registered, the police acted swiftly and issued a lookout circular to prevent Shivakumar from fleeing the country. This proactive measure led directly to his arrest at the airport. The following day, on November 28, 2025, he was produced before a court, which remanded him to four days of police custody for further interrogation and investigation into the full scope of his fraudulent activities.
This case serves as a stark warning against fraudsters who exploit people's aspirations by impersonating individuals in positions of authority and influence. The Bengaluru police's swift action in issuing the lookout notice and making the arrest has prevented the accused from potentially escaping justice abroad.
