Tollywood director Sekhar Kammula has filed a case against a cyber fraudster for allegedly using his name to extort money from aspiring actors. The case came to light after a victim registered a complaint with the Hyderabad police against an online platform for masquerading as Kammula and extorting money for a role in his upcoming movie.
The fraudster on Quikr and OLX had allegedly put an ad stating that Tollywood director Sekhar Kammula was scouting for fresh faces for his upcoming movie. The ad, which was posted with bank details, demanded that a fee between Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800 be deposited for an opportunity.
Many aspiring actors allegedly deposited the money, banking on the success of many of Sekhar Kammula’s films like Happy Days and Fidaa, which cast fresh faces on screen.
The complainant deposited the money and waited for the offer. However, it didn’t materialise. Next, he directly approached the director at his office, to the latter's surprise. He came to know that neither was Kammula directing a new film and nor had he offered the job through an advertisement.
The victim, on realising that he had been cheated, filed a case with the Hyderabad cyber crime police on Tuesday. Speaking to TNM, K.C.S. Raghu Vir, Assistant Commissioner of Police with Cyber Crime, said, “The plot came to light when the victim approached the director seeking the opportunity. Sekhar Kammula was shocked to see how his name was being used to collect money online. The website ran for around 25 days, and this is the first such case being reported. We are sure there are many more victims that have fallen into the trap.”
The Cyber Crime wing has booked a case under 165 (C), 165(D) of the IT Act along with Section 420 of the IPC (cheating) against the accused. Once traced, the accused will also be booked under the charge of impersonation.