Christopher (26), an employee of the Irrigation Department dismissed on cases of fraud, had allegedly cheated people to the tune of Rs one lakh. He allegedly made calls from a telephone booth outside the Zilla Parishad office here for the last six months, saying he was the joint collector's assistant.

Some days ago, the booth owner received a facsimile from Indukuripeta, saying Christopher's wife gave birth to a boy. When the operator went to the collector's chamber to deliver the message, she found Christopher was not employed there. Christopher was later handed over to the police.

spotted yesterday by some office staff who took him to the collector Satish Chandra, who in turn A police complaint was lodged against Christopher.