Man arrested for leasing bank-seized flat and cheating lessee of ₹9 lakh

Chennai A 55-year-old man was arrested for allegedly cheating a lessee of ₹9 lakh by leasing out an apartment in Madipakkam that had been taken over by a bank over non-payment of a housing loan. The police are searching for his son, who is also an accused in the case. The complainant, Tamilarasan, 31, a resident of Ramalingam Street in Madipakkam, works for a private delivery company.

In 2024, while searching for a house on lease, he came into contact with Ashok and his son Dhanush Venkat through an online platform. The duo allegedly offered to lease out an apartment on Ramalingam Street, registered in Dhanush Venkat’s name, for two years. On July 15, 2024, they collected ₹9 lakh from Tamilarasan as the lease amount.

A few months after moving into the apartment, Tamilarasan learnt the bank had taken possession of the property on July 15, 2024, due to non-payment of outstanding housing loan dues. He subsequently realised the duo had concealed the bank’s possession of the property and cheated him by collecting ₹9 lakh.