CHENNAI: The city police arrested four men for conning two ‘Facebook friends’ from Rajasthan and detaining them at a Triplicane lodge.

The duo from Rajasthan were involved in the textile business and were invited to Chennai on the pretext of business.

One of the accused, M Mohammed Khalid (26), of Chennai, befriended Farman, a victim, via social media and frequently interacted with him, police said. Khalid consoled Farman through messages as he had recently lost his sister and invited him to Chennai for a change of scene and to pursue business opportunities here.

Farman reached Chennai with his friend Mohammed Munajur last Tuesday and stayed with him at a lodge in Triplicane.

Learning about their location, Khalid and his three other friends came to the lodge on Thursday and threatened Farman and Munajur demanding Rs 5 lakh from them. The gang also attacked the two men with an iron rod. Munajur paid the miscreants Rs 6,000 and he was let go. Munajur filed a complaint against the gang, prompting the police to rescue Farman.

Apart from Khalid, the police arrested S Syed Fazal Ahmed (38), N Irfan Basha (24), and M Yuvraj (24). After an inquiry, all four were sent for judicial remand on Saturday.