Padma Shri awardee gets OTP messages, loses Rs 90,000

Bengaluru: A 58-year-old para-athlete and shot-putter, awarded Padma Shri in 2021, allegedly lost Rs 90,000 from his account in an online fraud despite alerting the bank after receiving suspicious OTP messages late at night.

Venkatesh KY, who participated in multiple international competitions, including World Dwarf Games, is also mentioned in Limca Book of Records.

Venkatesh, a resident of 16th Cross, Malleswaram, said he holds a savings account at Karnataka Bank’s 15th Cross branch. On the midnight of April 23, he began receiving multiple OTP messages linked to banking transactions. Concerned, he visited the bank the next morning and enquired with officials. Venkatesh was reportedly informed there was no issue with his account and that everything appeared normal.

Later in the day, around 5pm, he checked his account balance only to find that Rs 90,000 had allegedly been siphoned off without his knowledge or consent.

Shocked, he approached the bank and complained. On May 6, he filed a complaint with Malleswaram police seeking action against the unidentified fraudster. A case was registered under Information Technology Act and BNS Section 318 (cheating).