Imposter cops ‘arrest’ man on bus, rob Rs 98L

The man, identified as Gopinath (27) from Thanjavur who was staying with his sister in Seven Wells, was allegedly taking the money to his uncle Kannan in Tiruchy, a financier. Police suspect that it could be hawala money.

The incident happened on Saturday night and Gopinath lodged a complaint with Kilpauk police on Sunday. “He collected the money from a man in Burma Bazaar and was dropped by a friend in Egmore, from where he boarded an MTC bus to Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT). When the bus stopped near Taylors Road on Poonamallee High Road, a three-member gang boarded the bus with handcuffs. They claimed to be police and asked Gopinath to get down as he was carrying a huge sum of cash,” said an officer investigating the case.

Gopinath was then made to get into a car and taken to Vandalur. “The gang took away the bag containing cash and dropped him at Vandalur before fleeing the spot,” said police. Gopinath informed the man who gave him the cash about the incident and as per his advice lodged a complaint with Kilpauk police on Sunday.

Police said the suspects are being identified with the help of CCTV footage retrieved from the locality. “Only after their arrest will we be able to investigate the source of the money and whether it was unaccounted,” said police. Once the cash is retrieved, it would be handed over to the Income Tax department for further investigation, police noted.