5 employees of phone shop held for cheating customers of Rs 17 lakh

While the main accused, K Santhakumar (22) of Palavakkam, has been remanded in judicial custody, the police are questioning other suspects. Two of them have been identified as Naveen Priyan and Prakash.

They have been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Marcelin Joseph, a resident of Adyar and manager of the mobile phone showroom on RK Mutt Road.

In his complaint, Marcelin stated the showroom has a loan section in which customers can apply for loans to buy mobile phones, laptops and two-wheelers.

"Santhakumar and others who were working in the loan section received documentsfrom prospective customers to get them loans. When the loans were sanctioned and the money released, the accused would share it among themselves instead of handing it over tothe customers. They used this modus operandi to cheat customers ofRs 17 lakh," read the complaint.