P A Sangma�s cell phone no. used for cheating

Shillong, Feb 8 (PTI) Former Lok Sabha Speaker P ASangma�s cell number was allegedly used to cheat a bankemployee and extract money from him in Meghalaya''s �s WestGaro Hills district, police said today.

Superintendent of Police Dalton Marak said, "A casewas registered yesterday under various sections of cheatingand forgery. Investigation is underway to nab the culprit."

Sangma''s personal assistant filed an FIR on Saturdayalleging that a man had sought Rs 25,000 in January fromShyangtho Salgira D Sangma, an employee of the Tura branch ofthe Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank, "using the cell number oflocal MLA of Tura constituency PA Sangma".

The caller had said it was a loan being asked of thebank employee on his personal capacity and he would pay backRs 50,000.

The victim recognized the phone number of PA Sangmaand thought the caller must be close to him, police said.

He deposited the money in the account number providedby the caller in three instalments -- Rs 10,000 on January 4,Rs 10,000 on January 5, and Rs 5,000 on January 7.

It was only after the employee returned from anofficial training that he became suspicious as the money wasnot repaid as assured by the caller.

The fraud came to light when the victim�s wife met PASangma to get back the money. Only then he realized thatsomeone had used his cell number which, according to Sangma�sPA, was no longer used by him.

The former Lok Sabha speaker then asked the PA tolodge an FIR with the police.