Chennai, Apr 12 (Agency) The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of theTamil Nadu Police today said it had issued summons to two BJPfunctionaries for their alleged links with the Director of Aarudhra Gold Trading Private Limited, which has cheated more than onelakh investors/depositors to the tune of Rs 2,400 crores. The EOW in a press release here said summons were issued toadvocate Alex, of the Advocates’ Wing, Pallavaram, and Sudhakar,a district functionary of the Ranipet BJP unit, for an inquiry. Last month, the special unit of police arrested K. Harish (31) of Kancheepuram, who was a functionary of the Sports and Skill Development Cell of the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP. Harish was one of the Directors of Aarudhra Gold Trading PrivateLimited functioning from Aminjikarai area in the city.
The Firm had collected deposits to the tune of Rs 2,400 crore fromover one lakh investors by promising huge interest ranging from25 to 30% for a month and later failed to give returns as promised. The police said it had found six fictitious companies and identified16 suspects in connection with the scam. So far, 11 suspects hadbeen arrested and remanded in judicial custody.The EOW said “Harish is one of the key suspects. He was remandedin judicial custody on March 24. He was interrogated for 11 days fromMarch 28 during which he had disclosed that Rs 84 crore was receivedfrom depositors by the firm in Kancheepuram district”. However, the firm gave him Rs 130 crore with which he had purchasedproperties to the tune of Rs 15 crore and also made investments in somefirms.Besides, he had also invested the money through a firm called ‘One ManGroups’,” the EOW release said. His car, mobile phones, property documents and other incriminatingevidence were seized. During interrogation, Harish has confessed that he paid off a few personsin the BJP to get the post from the money which was supposed to bereturned to the depositors. Following his statement, summons were issued to Alex and Sudhakar,the EOW said.