Theft worth Rs 4 lakh in Tirunelveli

Chennai: At a time when incidents of fraud are at an all time high,
yet another incident was reported in Tirunelveli. The alleged fraudster, Vijayan,
Proprietor, Sree Vinayaga Agencies has absconded with goods worth Rs 4 lakh. The
goods include 10 Compaq desktops and three laptops, which Vijayan took on the
pretense that he was planning to give it on monthly installment schemes to the
public. Computer Dealers Association Tirunelveli (CDAT) has reported the matter
to the Police Commissioner and filed a case against the accused.

"Vijayan of Sree Vinayaga Agencies has been absconding since Dec 25, 2008. He
produced fake cheques for the laptops and desktops that he took. The fraudster
owes Rs 3.8 lakh to Albedo Systems and Rs 33,000 to Premier Systems. After
clearing Rs 1 lakh, he placed further orders and he has been absconding since
the cheques bounced," informed N Ananthavaradharajan, President, CDAT.

According to sources in the market, the accused has also cheated dealers in
other business areas and the total amount is said to exceed Rs 50 lakh.

After absconding, the accused is said to have sent legal notices to all
affected dealers asking for six months time to make the payments. "The notice
has been sent from Chengalpet Court near Chennai and has his residential
address, which is also a fake one. This is a move to make the criminal case into
a civil one and we will counter it in a different way. The police have initiated
a search and we are confident in nabbing him soon," Ananthavaradharajan
informed.

Ananthavaradharajan also appealed to other dealers to not purchase the
missing desktops and laptops, which the fraudster is sure to offer at a lower
price. "The accused has liquidated the stolen Panasonic materials near Vellore
and we fear that he might liquidate more IT products by offering them at a lower
price to dealers, since there would and be a temptation in buying it. We request
our channel partners to deny those materials and help us to nab the fraudster,"
he appealed.

When contacted, Stanley Jones, the investigating inspector informed that a
complaint has been registered against Vijayan and the police is scouting for the
accused. He further refused to divulge any details citing that the accused could
find loopholes and thereby find an escape route.