TGCHE seeks police probe into impersonation fraud calls

TGCHE has approached Hyderabad police to investigate an impersonation fraud involving calls made to engineering colleges demanding money. The caller allegedly used a mobile number displaying TGCHE details on Truecaller, prompting the council to seek strict legal action

Hyderabad: The Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) on Monday asked the Hyderabad police to investigate an impersonation fraud after multiple complaints were raised about fraudulent calls being made in its name to private engineering colleges and demanding money.

In a letter to Nampally Police, TGCHE Secretary Dr Sriram Venkatesh said the Council has received several oral enquiries and complaints from VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Technology and Geetanjali Engineering College, stating that they were receiving calls from the mobile number 9502108951.

---

Citing complainants, Dr Venkatesh said the caller was allegedly demanding money in the name of the TGCHE. “Upon verification, it is observed that the said mobile number, when checked on the Truecaller application, was displayed as Telangana Council of Higher Education, along with the official logo, which was misleading and appears to be a clear case of impersonation.”

Further, the TGCHE Secretary said on enquiry with Airtel Customer Care, it was informed that the said number is registered in the name of Sri Ambati Balaram, belonging to the Srikakulam area.

Apart from a detailed inquiry into the matter, the TGCHE asked the police to verify activities associated with the said mobile number. “Take necessary and strict legal action against the individual(s) involved, as per law,” he requested the police.