The Madurai Rural police have arrested a couple and busted a racket that swindled lakhs of rupees from gullible persons at various places in southern States on the promise of getting them government jobs, foreign assignments and gold at cheaper rate.
The police seized Rs.1.24 crore, 1.200 kg gold bars, 94 sovereign gold jewellery and six luxury cars among other things from them.
The accused include T. Vivekandan alias Venkatesh (38) of Pollachi, his wife Brinda (33) and her brother Kevin (both from Kerala).
Briefing reporters here on Friday, Inspector General of Police (South Zone) (in-charge), P. Kannappan, said that Brinda was arrested in Madurai on Friday. Venkatesh was arrested in Goa on May 1. He gave the special team of police the slip while being produced in a Panaji court.
The modus operandi of the couple was to hire posh bungalows in various places and dupe the local people — with their lavish lifestyle and luxury cars — into believing that they were big industrialists and connected with those in power.
During interrogation Venkatesh reportedly confessed that they had operated in Tiruppur, Polachi, Coimbatore, Erode, Palani, Pondicherry, and Bangalore.
Their activity came to light when Poorna Chandran of Tirunagar near here complained to the police that the couple, along with Kevin, had absconded after cheating him and his friends of Rs.75 lakh with the promise of getting them gold at cheaper rate last month.
More complaints poured in from Madurai, Sivaganga, and Virudhunagar districts after the media reported the crime.
“So far, we have received nine complaints. The total worth of the money swindled is around Rs.1 crore. We are not aware of the cases registered against them in other districts and other States. I think this is only the tip of the iceberg. We are probing whether they have a bigger network,” Mr. Kannappan said.
The police are trying to identify high-value properties the couple had purchased in Kodaikanal, Udhagamandalam, Dindigul, Palani, and Bangalore.
Madurai Superintendent of Police, Asra Garg, said that Venkatesh is a diploma holder and his wife has passed out of school.
Mr. Kannappan warned people to be wary of such white-collar criminals.
He gave rewards to the special team, led by Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), A. Mayilvahanan and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Tirupparankundram), V. Ponramu.
