The District Crime Branch (DCB) on Saturday detained Coimbatore-based lottery businessman Santiago Martin under Goondas Act in connection with cases of land grab in Salem, cheating in Tirupur and forceful takeover of a company in Coimbatore. He was on conditional bail in all three cases.
Mr. Martin's detention under the Goondas Act was ordered by Coimbatore Collector M. Karunakaran, on the recommendation made by Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore Rural, E.S. Uma. Mr. Martin was taken into custody when he came to the crime branch office to sign the register as part of fulfilling the conditions for the bail. He was later lodged at the Coimbatore Central Prison.
Mr. Martin had surrendered at a Judicial Magistrate court in Chennai on July 28 after being named as accused number five in a cheating case at Palladam in Tirupur District.
When he visited the Chennai Suburban Commissionerate Office to sign the register as part of fulfilling the bail condition on August 13, crime branch officials from Salem arrested him in connection with a land grab case.
The Coimbatore District Crime Branch also had filed a case against him for forceful takeover of a company, belonging to S.A. Narahari Shetty at Ganapathy in the city.
Mr. Shetty had lodged a complaint with the crime branch that Mr. Martin forcefully acquired his company worth Rs. 125 crore and had issued a threat to him and his family members.
Mr. Martin and five others were charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, possession of deadly weapon, forgery of valuable security (documents), forgery for the purpose of cheating, kidnapping with an intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person, house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault and attempt to murder.
