Bengaluru: Three persons were arrested, including two women who worked as secretarial assistants at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), for financial fraud amounting to over Rs 1.9 crore.The accused forged approval documents for advance funds intended for students’ foreign travel. They allegedly altered bank account details on the documents and diverted funds into the bank accounts of family members and associates.V Soundharya, 25, a resident of Yeshwantpur; R Deepika, 25, from Hesaraghatta; Sachin Rao, 25, from Bannerghatta Road have been remanded in judicial custody.In a complaint filed by IISc registrar Capt. Sridhar Warrier on Oct 31, Soundharya and Deepika were accused of committing a fraud of up to Rs 80 lakh. The temporary secretarial assistants were hired by IISc through private outsourcing firm Sri Venkateshwara Enterprises, three years ago. Their responsibilities included maintaining accounts and other administrative tasks for the institute.The two women allegedly tampered with and forged existing sanction orders issued by the IISc academic department to release advance funds for students’ foreign travel. They allegedly manipulated approval documents, changed students’ bank account details and diverted the funds into 16 bank accounts. The misappropriated funds were used to purchase land, gold ornaments and other assets.Between Nov 8-10, police recovered valuables worth Rs 1 crore, including two plots of land valued at Rs 70-80 lakh, 121gms of gold ornaments worth Rs 15 lakh, Rs 1 lakh in cash and a Maruti Suzuki Brezza worth Rs 10 lakh.
