BSNL investment fraud: Mastermind and accomplice arrested by police

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The crime branch has arrested AR Rajeev (43) of TC 49 /335 Sivadanam house in Kamaleswaram, one of the main masterminds of the BSNL Engineers Cooperative Investment Fraud, and Harikumar (50) of TC 12/52 Leela Sadan in Karamana's Yamuna Nagar, his benami business partner who was involved in the fraud.

A team led by Crime Branch DySP Sajjad caught them, who had been on the run for months, from a lodge in Nagercoil on Saturday afternoon. The accused was nabbed while trying to deceive police and Munnar in an Innova car. After interrogation, he was produced in the court at 6 pm and remanded.

Rajeev was a clerk in the co-operative group where the fraud was committed for many years. Harikumar is Rajeev's best friend. The investigation team revealed that Rajeev was involved in the planning and conspiracy of the fraud along with AR Gopinath, who is the main accused in the case and was the society's long-time president and later secretary. The two were arrested in the cases registered at the Vanchiyoor police station on the complaint of the joint registrar of the cooperative society,.

250 crore investment fraud

The investigation of the crime branch revealed an investment fraud of around Rs 250 crore. Harikumar worked as Rajeev's helper including disposing of the stolen money and absconding after the crime. The investigation team, which traced the source of the money that Rajeev earned in and outside the city within a short period of time, will conduct a detailed investigation into the matter.

It was revealed that the accused will be taken into custody. The KL 01 BB 3900 Innova car, used by the accused to flee, has also been taken into custody. The car is owned by Rajeev's wife. CI C Robert, SI Akhil, Detective Sub-Inspector Nijith, SCPO Sajith, CPOs Vinod and Shibu were also involved in the investigation team.