The New Washermenpet police arrested a married couple for allegedly cheating around 13 people of ₹36.6 lakh by falsely promising to secure flats for them under the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) scheme.

According to police, Baby, 38, of VOC Nagar in Tondiarpet lodged a complaint stating that a man identified as Vinoth Babu, 38, who was introduced to her through an acquaintance, claimed to be an employee of the TNHB and promised to allot a flat to her for ₹3 lakh. Believing Vinoth Babu, Baby paid him in several instalments during 2024. She also introduced him to her mother and other acquaintances, following which 13 people collectively paid ₹36.6 lakh to obtain TNHB flats.

However, when Baby later visited the TNHB office and verified the allotment order copies and electricity card documents provided by Vinoth Babu, officials informed her that they were fake. Realising that they had been deceived, Baby approached the police. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under cheating and other relevant sections and launched an investigation.

The police traced the suspects, who were on the run, and arrested Vinoth Babu of TNHB Employees’ Quarters in MKB Nagar and his wife Uma Maheswari, 30. During the investigation, the police found that Vinoth Babu already had two cheating cases against him. Following interrogation, the suspects were remanded in judicial custody.