Chennai: Fake I-T gang seizes Rs 3 lakh from grocery shop owner’s house

Chennai: A four-member gang posing as income tax officials escaped with Rs 3 lakh in cash, gold chain, silver articles and mobile phones from a grocery shop owner's house in Korattur on Tuesday.

Police said, it was around 3 pm on Tuesday when a car pulled up in front of a grocery shop of one Sivaprakasam in Korattur. Four men got down from the car and told Sivaprakasam who was at the shop that they were from the Income Tax department and that they had to raid his house.

“They downed the shutters of the shop and took Sivaprakasam to his house on the first floor of the same building. They checked the cupboard and 'seized' Rs 3 lakh in cash and other valuables,” said police. While they told Sivaprakasam to collect the valuables at the income tax office in Nungambakkam, Sivaprakasam later found out from the income tax office that they had not carried out any such raid. He then realised that he had been cheated lodged a complaint at Korattur police station. A case has been registered and further investigation is on. Police are now combing through the CCTV footages to nab the gang.