50-yr-old mimics minister to extort cash, arrested

The arrested person was identified as Mohamed Rafeeq from MKB Nagar. He has at least 15 cases of mimicking ministers and trying to extort money from businessmen against him across the State. He had been booked under Goondas Act at least two times in the past.

The latest arrest transpired after P Duraiswamy (61), who works as the managing director of a private firm, registered a complaint. The Police noted that he received a call on Tuesday when he was in the office. The caller allegedly identified himself as minister Jayakumar and further said that he needs Rs 1 lakh to organise an event in the coming days. He demanded the money from Duraiswamy, who agreed to pay Rs 50,000.

Suspecting foul play, Duraiswamy lodged a complaint with the Guindy police and during the probe, the police found that the caller was not the minister but Mohamed Rafeeq. He was arrested and remanded, the police noted.