Bengaluru: Man with criminal past runs security firm!

BENGALURU: With the recent increase in number of crimes in the city, private security agencies are mushroomed across the city. But the authorities, including the police, are clueless about the antecedents of promoters and security guards of these companies.

Here is a classic example of a former security company employee, who has been accused of cheating, forgery and theft cases, starting his own security agency without the necessary licence.

A complaint filed at the HSR Layout police station states that Salim Khan, Managing Director of Bangalore Security Forces (BSF)’, has four cases registered against him in different police stations in the city. In two of the cases, FIRs too have been filed.

Salim Khan, who hails from Karimganj in Assam, has been running the agency for the last six months from 22nd Cross, 24th Main, H.S.R. Layout Sector 2.

An employee from another agency, Balu Bhagwat, filed the complaint at the Electronics City police station, demanding action against Salim Khan, who allegedly threatened to kill Shratugna Prajapathi, a manager at Paramount Samudhara Apartment in Singsandra near Electronics City on November 17.

This is not the only case against Salim. He was earlier charged in a theft case in HSR Layout which was recorded in CCTV cameras. The CCTV footage shows him stealing chairs from a pre-nursery school in IPS Colony in HSR Layout on July 24. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against him.

Mr Bhagwat alleged that Salim Khan, who was an ex-employee with their security firm, was charged after he was allegedly found forging the signatures of security guards. “In 2007, Salim was heading the marketing department and handled the salaries of security guards. A few guards complained to the management that Salim was forging their signatures and paying them lesser salaries. An internal audit was conducted and Salim’s misappropriation was detected. He was sacked immediately,” said Mr Bhagwat.

But after he was shown the door, Salim started harassing security guards and reportedly threatened to kill them. “He started his private security company in HSR Layout, but has not obtained the licence from the agency concerned and has also violated the PSARA (Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act 2005 and Private Security Agencies (Karnataka) Rules 2008. All security agencies are required to obtain licences under these rules,” said Mr Bhagwat.

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