Man posing as CSR exec cheats city realty firm of Rs 4 cr

Hyderabad: A city-based construction firm has accused a man of posing as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) executive of a software major and cheating the firm of Rs 4 crore. According to the complaint, the accused lured the firm by promising a Rs 650 crore contract for constructing govt school buildings in Karnataka. Based on the complaint, the Hyderabad Central Crime Station (CCS) has registered a cheating case against the accused, who has also been booked in a similar fraud case by Karnataka police.In his complaint to CCS on April 7, Md Khaja Naseeruddin, the authorised representative of a Malakpet-based construction firm, stated that he first met the accused, Gagan Deep N, during a visit to Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation office in 2025. He alleged that Deep introduced himself as the regional head (CSR) of a software company and claimed to have close links with Karnataka ministers. He further stated that the accused offered the firm work worth Rs 150 crore under a proposed school infrastructure programme funded by the company.According to the complainant, Deep later organised meetings in Bengaluru and arranged a field inspection of more than 30 govt schools in rural Karnataka to gain his confidence. Believing the representations made, the construction firm paid Rs 3 crore as earnest money deposit (EMD) in May 2025 through three demand drafts drawn in favour of a Mysuru-based company, as instructed by the accused.The complaint further alleged that during a meeting in Bengaluru on June 12, 2025, Deep introduced the complainant to individuals presented as senior education officials of Karnataka and legislators, describing the firm as an approved vendor of the software company. At the same meeting, the project value was allegedly increased to ₹625 crore after the inclusion of smart classroom screens in 137 schools. Following this, the accused allegedly demanded an additional Rs 9.5 crore towards EMD, and the complainant's firm transferred another Rs 1 crore between Oct and Nov 2025 to bank accounts provided by him.The alleged fraud came to light on April 3, 2026, when the complainant came across a news report stating that Bengaluru police had registered a case against Deep and others for allegedly duping a Karnataka-based company of Rs 6 crore using a similar method. The complainant then realised that he may have been misled through false representation as a CSR executive of the software firm and fabricated project documents.CCS police registered a case against Gagan Deep and others under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation), read with Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A CCS officer stated that the accused had already been arrested by Bengaluru police in a related case. He added that custody would be sought on a transit warrant, and further details would emerge after interrogation.