Two autorickshaw drivers were arrested for allegedly threatening and extorting money from a group of guest workers using UPI transactions, police said on Monday.
The victims, led by Vinoth Singh (21) from Jharkhand, had just arrived at Chennai Central railway station with four others in search of construction jobs. They were approached by the accused, who offered to take them to a worksite in Madhuravoyal.
During the ride, the auto drivers diverted the route to a secluded area, where they threatened the victims at knifepoint and forced them to transfer Rs3,800 via UPI apps from their phones. After receiving the money, the accused fled the scene.
The Aminjikarai police, acting on the complaint, arrested:
E Vijay (28) of Pudupet
C Santosh Kumar (22) of Otteri
Police also seized the autorickshaws and mobile phones used in the crime. Both men were produced before a magistrate and have been remanded to judicial custody.
