Port Blair, Sept. 12: A Private Businessman was arrested and sent to 14 days Judicial Custody today on charges that he has cheated the tribals of Teressa Island by promising them household articles, vehicles etc.

On 11/9/12, in a case of cheating registered at PS CCS vide Cr. No. 140/12 dated 15/3/12 U/s 420 IPC accused K. Murgananthan, S/o Late Karupaiah 35, private businessmen, R/o Bengali Village Teressa, has been arrested at PS CCS for looting the tribal people of Teressa Islands.

It was alleged that. Murugananthan had cheated the tribals of Teressa Island and the investigation conducted by SI Girish Kumar, SHO PS CCS revealed that as many as 45 tribal people have been cheated by the accused person by false promises of household goods etc.

The tribal people of Teressa Island lost their family members and their belongings during the unfortunate tsunami of 2004 and they were provided compensation by the A&N Administration. Accused Murgananthan residing in Teressa dishonestly lured the tribals for getting household articles, motorcycles etc and these tribals in good faith had given money as demanded by him.

Murgananthan deceived the tribals and obtained their signatures on blank withdrawal forms and withdrew the whole amount from their accounts and did not return the pass book, and thus they never knew the amount withdrawn from their account. Though the accused had provided articles to some of the tribals, but an amount of Rs. 36.32 Lakhs (Approx) has been dishonestly misappropriated by him. Despite of repeated enquiry by the tribal people, the accused did not to repay the amount.

Murgananthan was produced before the Hon’ble Court of CJM today at Port Blair and remanded to 14 days Judicial custody at District Jail, Prathrapur. Further investigation of the case is in progress.