Woman arrested for cheating more than 20 of Rs 3.2 crore

Coimbatore, Jan 30 (PTI) A woman was arrested on chargesof cheating more than 20 people in the past few years to thetune of Rs 3.27 crore on the promise of doubling of money andgetting loans from the Prime Minister''s Relief Fund, a toppolice official said.

City Police Commissioner C Sylendra Babu said Gayathri, amiddle-aged woman, had confessed after her arrest yesterdaythat she had collected about Rs 3.19 crore from 24 persons onthe promise of doubling money. She had also collected Rs onelakh from five persons on the promise of getting loan from thePrime Minister''s Relief Fund and also Rs five lakh from fivepersons for getting loans under the Self Help Group scheme, hesaid.

Police have seized one car, 15 sovereign of gold ornamentsand two cell phones from Gayatri, he added.

Babu said the accused was arrested following a complaintfrom Nagaraj, a realtor. She had cheated Nagaraj of Rs 12 lakhafter telling him that in order to encash a cheque for Rs 50crore from abroad that was in her possession, Rs 50 lakh hadto be deposited in a bank as initial payment, the Commissionersaid.

Her accomplice in the crime, which took place about 18months ago, was absconding, police said.

The accused was produced in a local court today and wasremanded to custody, Babu said.