MADURAI
In the first of the 21 complaints received by Madurai City police about harassment by usurers, a Junior Assistant at Government Rajaji Hospital here, M. Subramanian (50), was arrested on Sunday evening.
Tallakulam police had registered a case under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act, 2003, based on a complaint lodged by R. Venkatesan (46) of Chinna Chockikulam. Mr. Venkatesan had handed over the complaint to Commissioner of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal during the special grievance redressal meeting held on Thursday and Friday last.
The complainant, who was running a dairy, had borrowed money from nine moneylenders, including Subramanian, and had been paying huge sums as interest. He had given signed blank cheques and promissory notes to the moneylenders.
As he could not settle the loans with exorbitant rates of interest, he preferred the complaint.
Tallakulam police arrested Subramanian and recovered several documents pertaining to lending money to Mr. Venkatesan and others. After his arrest, Subramanian complained of chest pain and was admitted to the GRH.
A magistrate, who visited him at the hospital, remanded him in 15 days’ judicial custody. Subramanian was shifted to the convict ward at the hospital.
Tallakulam police are on the lookout for the eight others.
Meanwhile, Koodal Pudur police booked two cases of usury against M. Rukmani (30) of Mahatma Gandhi Nagar based on complaints received from S. Amutha (42) and G. Seithun Bevi (33).
While Ms. Amutha claimed that she had borrowed ₹5,000 from her and repaid ₹25,000, Ms. Bevi complained that she had borrowed ₹15,000, but had repaid ₹25,000, but still the moneylender was demanding more money.
Meanwhile, Sholavandan police have arrested M. Kallanai (38) of Sholavandan for having wrongfully restrained one M. Murugan (39) after reportedly having collected from him more than three times the amount he had lent.
The police said Mr. Murugan had borrowed ₹6 lakh from Kallanai six years ago and paid ₹20 lakh so far. When the complainant could not repay the loan and the accused abused and threatened him.
Based on a complaint under the TNPCEI Act, Sholavandan police arrested Kallanai.
