Rs 1.53 crore fraud averted in Chennai

Chennai-based Broadline Computer Systems came close to being another victim
of a major fraud in Chennai. A man who fraudulently purchased computers and
laptops worth Rs 1.53 crore from Broadline Computer Systems was arrested by the
Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the city police. A total of 250 desktops, 153
laptops, a sum of Rs 72,000 and a car he had brought by illegally selling 56
laptops were confiscated from the accused.

Police said that the accused, Saravanan (32), owner of Wescos Properties and
Developers in T Nagar, claimed he was a representative of Madha Engineering
College in Mannamadurai and placed an order for about 250 desktops and 300
laptops worth Rs 1.53 crore with Broadline Computer Systems on April 4.

The police informed that the accused got the stocks delivered twice in a
godown near the college after alleging that the computers would be taken from
there and installed after the construction work in the college was over. The
company grew suspicious after Saravanan kept evading payments. When they sent
their representatives they found they had been cheated by Saravanan.

“Identifying himself as S Shankar, Saravanan placed a bulk order and asked
for the goods to be delivered at the college in Mannamadurai. We delivered 250
desktops on April 28 and 209 laptops on April 30 through the Madurai branch of
Redington. We grew suspicious when he kept delaying the payments and wasn't
giving any proper response. When we checked with the college authorities, we
found that we had been cheated,” said J Ravindran, Administration Manager,
Broadline Systems.

Ravindran lodged a complaint with K Radhakrishnan, Assistant Commissioner of
Police at the Police Commissionerate in Egmore on May 8 and the case was taken
up by a CCB team. The police apprehended Saravanan within 24 hours and he
confessed to having committed the crime. They recovered the hidden materials
from two places in Chennai. After inquiries it was revealed that the accused had
also cheated a mobile phone showroom in Chennai for nearly Rs 40 lakh and was
facing the trial for the case.

Radhakrishnan lauded the efforts of the team involved in nabbing the culprit
with 24 hours.