Six held for duping man of Rs 10 lakh for 'Iridium' materials

Erode: The Andhiyur police in Erode district on Friday arrested six people for cheating a man of Rs 10 lakh by promising to give rare ‘Iridium’ materials. They have launched a search for the main accused, who is on the run.

The arrest was made based on a complaint by V R K Ramalingam, 54, of Karur district, a sub-inspector attached with the Andhiyur police station, P Prabu, said.

The accused were identified as D Sathish Kumar, 41, of Gandhigram village in Karur district, who is absconding, Senthil Raj, 38, of Erode, Seddu, 35, of Trichy, Kasinathan Durai, 37, of Karur, Madhan Fernandez, 38, of Erode, Suresh, 37, of Erode and Prasanth, 35, of Tiruchengode in Namakkal district.

“A gang of seven members approached the complainant with a promise of giving him rare ‘Iridium’ materials and demanded Rs 10 lakh for it. Ramalingam gave the money at Andhiyur bus stand on November 5. The gang handed over him a box and asked him to open it in a dark room at his house,” the official said.

As per the direction, Ramalingam opened the box at his house and found a bronze pot. Realising that the gang had cheated him, he demanded the money back from them. “They threatened to kill him if he approached them for money. After this, Ramalingam lodged the complaint with us on Thursday,” the SI said.

After an inquiry, the police confirmed that the gang had cheated Ramalingam. They arrested the six and produced them before the Bhavani sub-court. The accused were lodged at the Coimbatore central prison in judicial custody. The police have seized the cash and the bronze idol.