DMK ex-MP, kin booked for cheating NRI

The CCB registered the FIR based on a complaint lodged by Athinarayanan alias Siva, a native of Gerugambakkam, near Chennai, at present residing in the US. 

According to the complainant, Athinarayanan alias Siva, a native of Gerugambakkam, when he came to Chennai for his son’s treatment, one of his friends introduced him to Ritheesh, saying that he was an influential parliamentarian. 

The complainant said Ritheesh had invited Siva to the Parliament and had introduced him to several prominent leaders. Ritheesh also told Athinarayanan that he has metal scrap recycling and sand quarry businesses through which he was earning around Rs 50,000 per day. Ritheesh had also invited Athinarayanan to his office at T Nagar and had met him along with the other accused regularly. 

During one such meeting, Ritheesh told Athinarayanan that he needed money to obtain a contract from FACT, Kerala, through his benami company and the deal would fetch him a profit of 500 times of the investment. Ritheesh then reportedly convinced Athinarayanan by promising to give large tracts of land in Sriperumbudur. Believing his words, the NRi paid him Rs 2.18 crore However, Ritheesh failed to keep his promise and when Athinarayanan sought his money back, Ritheesh and his henchmen threatened him with dire consequences. 

Based on a complaint from Athinarayanan, the CCB registered an FIR under IPC Sections 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 120 B ( Punishment of criminal conspiracy) against Ritheesh, his wife Jotheeshwari and five others. Further investigations are on.