Thiruvananthapuram | Police are searching for a man who allegedly forged documents of the Vizhinjam port authority, claiming that he had secured a Rs 300-crore project contract and is suspected to have duped several people, officials said on Monday.

The case has been registered against Salmanul Faris P T (45), a native of Areacode in Malappuram district.

Thampanoor police registered the case earlier this month based on a complaint filed by the Chief Executive Officer of Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL).

According to police, the accused allegedly created a forged document claiming that he had been awarded a tender worth Rs 300 crore by VISL.

The document allegedly carried the signatures of senior VISL officials.

Police said VISL approached them after receiving information that the document was being used by the accused to cheat people and obtain investments from them.

A case was registered against him under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to forgery and cheating.

Police said the accused went into hiding after the case was registered and efforts are underway to trace him.

Investigators have also collected information from people who were allegedly cheated by the accused.