3 Bulgarians arrested in ATM card cases sent to their country

CHENNAI: Three Bulgaria nationals, who were arrested in skimming ATM card cases, were sent to their country from the Chennai airport under tight security on Thursday.

In 2019, the City Crime Branch police arrested three men Nicola, Boris, Lium Bobby of Bulgaria, who were involved in many ATM thefts by using fake ATM cards. Police seized over 50 fake ATM cards from them along with US Dollars. They were remanded in judicial custody and sent to Puzhal prison. In the same year in December, they were granted bail and were shifted to a special camp in Tiruchy. In 2021 the court sentenced them to prison and they were sent to Puzhal Prison again.

Recently, the Bulgaria government requested the Indian government to send the three accused to their country and they will be lodged in prison in their country. The Indian government agreed to send them back. Later, a special police team from Bulgaria reached Chennai and submitted all the necessary documents to take the accused with them. On Wednesday, immigration officials issued emergency visas to them and they were brought to Chennai airport at midnight from the Puzhal prison. After completing all the medical and security check, they boarded the Qatar Airlines at 4.30 am and departed to Bulgaria via Doha. Following this extra police force were deployed in the Chennai airport in the midnight.