A 68-year-old man, identified as Mani, was arrested in Kottayam for masterminding a series of fraudulent schemes targeting individuals who advertised land for sale in local media outlets. Mani, a resident of Aluva, was apprehended from his rented accommodation in Vazhoor. According to police, Mani acted as the kingpin of a group posing as land brokers, offering large loans to victims with promises of doubling their returns.
One of the victims, a local resident of Aluva, was defrauded of Rs 5 lakh. Mani used the false identity of ‘Joshi’ to befriend land advertisers, claiming to have influential connections in the film industry and access to significant unaccounted funds. He offered low-interest loans but used prop currency notes from film productions to make the loans appear legitimate.
The fraud was uncovered through a diligent investigation, and Mani was arrested by a police team led by Muvattupuzha Inspector Basil Thomas, who successfully traced the fraudulent activities and brought the suspect into custody.
This arrest highlights the ongoing issue of financial frauds targeting unsuspecting individuals, especially in cases involving fake loan schemes. Authorities are now urging the public to be cautious when approached with offers of easy loans or financial assistance from unverified sources.