Fake pension scheme: T.N. gang of six held for ‘cheating’ over 3,000 people
The Hindu
Fake currency notes with a face value of ₹44.02 lakh seized
The Chittoor Urban Police on Friday arrested six members of an inter-State gang hailing from Vellore in Tamil Nadu on charges of cheating over 3,000 people and collecting several crores of rupees from them after luring them with a life-long pension scheme on deposit of smaller amounts. The police also seized fake currency notes with a face value of ₹44.02 lakh from the accused.
Addressing the media here, Deputy SP (Law and Order) N. Sudhakar Reddy said that one Vijayabhanu from Vellore, along with her gang-members, had floated a trust named after Mother Theresa in the recent years in Vellore and Katpati.
“The gang would lure people with a life-long pension scheme for which their clients had to make a minimum of onetime deposit of ₹5,000 each to avail of ₹1,000 pension per month. Seeing their scheme working, the gang had started operating in Gudipala mandal of Chittoor district, close to the Tamil Nadu border. To gain the confidence, the gang also started paying pensions to some people for a few months. The gang had allegedly collected amounts from ₹5,000 to ₹1 lakh each from more than 3,000 people including those in Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Reddy said.
Sometimes, the gang would deliberately delay the payments which prompted some clients to approach the police. “Showing the clients wades of fake currency notes, the gang would claim that the money for pension distribution is ready, but it requires sanction at several levels. Seeing the currency notes, the gullible people would deposit additional amounts expecting more pension,” the Deputy SP said.
A women, who had paid ₹1.05 lakh to the trust approached the Gudipala police recently and DIG S. Senthil Kumar formed a special party to probe the complaint. Meanwhile, more complaints started pouring in.
After a thorough investigation, the special party arrested six members of the gang including kingpin Vijayabhanu and her main accomplice Milton, and four others on the outskirts of Chittoor when the gang members were crossing the inter-State border.
Mr. Sudhakar Reddy said that a search was on to nab four more members of the gang. He appealed to the people who fell prey to this gang to share more details with the police.
Amol Palekar advocates against pre-censorship in films and theatre, urging the government to protect artists' freedom of expression.
BJP legislators demand release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, threatening protests and border blockade if demands not met.
Odisha loses 790 elephants in a decade, with electrocution as the leading cause of unnatural deaths.
ASI issues notice to halt construction at Arya Akshobhya Teertha Mutt near Rameshwara temple in Shivamogga.
Madurai High Court orders removal of encroachments along Madurai-Dindigul highway, Corporation and Highways Department officials conduct joint operation.
Maharashtra Congress chief initiates signature campaign for return of ballot papers, sparking nationwide debate on EVMs.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner K. Vidyakumari on Wednesday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to undertake periodical maintenance of NH66 without giving room for complaints.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw updates Lok Sabha on Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. shareholding, Goa willing to relinquish.
One dies, eight hospitalised after inhaling HCL fumes at pharma company in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district. About 400 litres of HCL leaked from the reactor-cum-receiver tank at Unit-III of the company, which affected nine workers, says Collector. While the condition of six of them is stable, two are on ventilator support. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directs authorities to provide advanced treatment to the victims. Home Minister Anitha expresses anger over repeated such incidents.
Parents and social workers in Thoothukudi request new Anganwadi buildings due to unsafe conditions in current rental buildings.
Delta districts face heavy rainfall, prompting coordinated efforts to mitigate damages, with NDRF teams deployed for rescue operations.