Thiruvananthapuram | A police recruit trainee officer has been booked for cheating his fellow trainees by allegedly collecting over Rs seven lakh from them for getting uniforms and then spending the money on an online betting game, police said on Monday.

An officer of Peroorkada police station said that statements are being recorded and after that further steps will be taken.

According to the FIR lodged under section 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the accused was a member of the uniform committee and allegedly collected over Rs 7,18,320 from several trainees to deposit them in the police dry canteen, for buying uniform materials, and a society which stitches the uniforms.

He carried out this activity between July 3 and July 13 and instead of depositing the amount, allegedly spent it on an online betting game to make a profit, the FIR said.

The case was registered against the accused and an investigation was launched following a complaint by one of his senior commanding officers who came to know about the alleged cheating, police said.