CHENNAI: The City Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested Maya Venkatesan (46), a resident of Mayavaram, on charges of cheating a civil contractor in Neyveli and two persons in Andhra Pradesh to the tune of Rs. 3.23 crore.

According to police, Maya Venkatesan had come to Chennai two decades ago in search of a job. As his attempts to get into the film industry failed, he worked as a driver and later operated a travel agency and established "contacts" with VIPs and political leaders. He also contested elections on Samajwadi Party ticket.

The complaint against Venkatesan was that he advertised in media that he would set up a Rs. 360-crore cement plant in Tuticorin district's Moolakarapatti over 72 acres. He invited tenders from eligible contractors willing to undertake civil works and obtain all licences/clearances from the Pollution Control Board authorities.

Responding to the advertisement, Ashokkumar of Neyveli offered to carry out the work and in a phased manner, gave Rs. 53.77 lakh to Maya Venkatesan in May 2004 as earnest money deposit. Similar complaints were received from other contractors, police added.

Judicial custody

Based on a complaint, the CCB sleuths led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Satyanarayanaa searched his house and arrested Venkatesan on Thursday night at Vadapalani. Police said a sub-inspector attached to the City Crime Branch suffered injuries when Venkatesan opened fire with his licensed revolver while the arrest was being effected. After recording the statement, the police remanded him to judicial custody.

Police said the SI, Sivakumar, preferred a complaint. A case has been registered against Venkatesan by the Vadapalani police.

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