Karwar: A conman posing as Lokayukta SP was arrested, while calling government officials on phone to coerce them to pay money to evade punishment otherwise.

Murigeppa Kumbar (45), a dismissed police constable from Chikkodi taluk and his associate Basavanna of Belgaum, were finally rounded up this week. Their two other associates are in Hindalaga jail in Belgaum.

Kumbar had phoned an executive engineer in Sirsi a few days ago. The engineer got in touch with real SP Jagamayyanavar under a doubt, and informed him about the pretender. The SP lodged a complaint on Dec 28,2011 in Karwar police station.

A team of police officials netted the guilty persons with the help of Sirsi police Kumbar was  policeman for 12 years (1986-98) but was dismissed for misusing bus warrants. He is now a subject of enquiry, since then, in  lock-up.