Date:30/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/30/stories/2008053060250500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Held for cheating

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The police on Wednesday arrested one D. Victor Jayakumar (31) of Mayiladuturai on a charge of cheating. The accused was working in a finance company in the city before he set up a firm, Countrywide Enterprises, which had its office on LB Road in Adyar, four years ago.

The accused, through his company, promised to get loans from private banks for marriage, education and buying homes. In addition to a fee towards purchase of the application, its processing, getting a surety, the accused also sought 20 per cent of the loan as commission.

The police said the accused had cheated around 600 people.

The arrest followed a complaint by David Chandrakumar, a social worker based in Sholinganallur. The complainant said that he had paid Rs.14,000 to the accused after he promised to get him a home loan. On payment of the amount, Jayakumar demanded Rs. 10,000 more and allegedly threatened Chandrakumar, when he demanded his money back.

Two other women also approached the Police Commissionerate with complaints against the accused. Beulla, a teacher in Red Hills, had submitted a petition with the Police Commissioner stating that she had paid Rs. 1.44 lakh to the accused who had promised to get a housing loan sanctioned. Chandrika of Manali had paid Rs. 3 lakh as payment towards a housing loan.

On Thursday evening, four more complaints of cheating against the accused involving Rs. 5 lakh were received, the police said. The accused has been remanded to custody and his office premises were sealed, they added.