Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 31: Reportedly, a couple, Ramesh and Revathi from Amruthahalli here, have cheated people to the extent of Rs 20 crore in the name of chit fund and fled. A complaint against them was filed in Amruthahalli police station here on Saturday July 30.

The couple, who told their neighbours that they were visiting Tirupathi, had vacated their home and left with their two sons overnight. So far, 38 persons have visited the police station and complained against the above couple. Policemen say that they have been receiving complaints against the couple continuously, and that they would be able to estimate the total amount of fraud after getting all the complaints.

The couple, residing in Amruthahalli since many years, were engaged in several businesses including chit fund. They had a Range Rover car, and trusting that they were ultra rich and hence cannot stoop to the level of usurping people's money, over 200 had joined the chit fund business run by them, it is gathered. They also had floated a scheme of gifting silk sari individually for the coming Varamahalaxmi festival, and reportedly collected Rs 3,600 each from 500 people.

Reports said that the couple had planned this escape since the last at least three months. Since then they had not disbursed money to even those members who were beneficiaries of chit fund during these three months. They had shifted items from their house slowly one by one, without unduly attracting attention of others, it is gathered.

The people who turned panicky after getting information that the husband-wife duo had gone missing, rushed to their house and found to their chagrin that household goods had been emptied. The house they were residing stands mortgaged to someone else, they were given to understand. Some said that they were cheated as cheques issued by the couple instead of cash had been returned unpaid by banks for want of funds.