A 51-year-old man identified as Saktivel was arrested in Dharapuram in Tirupur district on Friday and ₹10 lakh and some gold jewellery were recovered.

Following a complaint from R. Parameswaran of Old Ayakudi near Palani in Dindigul district, the Palani Town police registered a case.

It is said that the complainant had paid a sum of ₹19 lakh to Saktivel in May after he was promised of getting iridium. Believing it, when Parameswaran went home and opened the packet, he found he was cheated as the packet contained nothing as told by the accused.

Attempts to contact him did not fetch any response. After visiting the address given by the accused, the complainant realised it was fake. Hence, he preferred a complaint with the police.

Police said that a special team was formed and DSP Selvakumar supervised the progress. After watching a few CCTV footages and the mobile number of the suspect, the police zeroed in on Saktivel somewhere in Dharapuram.

Discreet probe and confession led to recovery of ₹10 lakh and 3.75 sovereigns of gold jewellery. The police registered a case and produced the accused before a Judicial Magistrate court, which remanded him in judicial custody.

A senior officer said that the accused had some idea about the features of iridium and had shared some of these in social media. Thinking that iridium would bring in a fortune, the complainant had been misled in this particular case. There are many gangs which indulge in cheating people of rice pulling. “We will seek custody of Saktivel soon and examine,” he added.

Dindigul Superintendent of Police S. Jayakumar in a press statement appealed to the public not to get lured by such promises or fall prey to the tricksters. The gullible public should refrain from such fraudsters and instead report to the police for action as per the law.

Published - July 10, 2026 09:31 pm IST