Chennai, 22 August (H.S.) : The Royapettah police have arrested a 34-year-old man, KP Ashok from Triplicane, for allegedly hijacking a woman's property and scamming her out of Rs 27 lakh. The accused created forged property documents, posed as the rightful owner, and rented out the units to various tenants, collecting substantial advance payments.
The property owner, Sara Wahab, a resident of Perungudi, had left India in 2018 to live in Saudi Arabia with her parents. During her absence, Ashok took advantage of the situation and broke into the vacant shops and apartments in the building on Gaudiya Mutt Road in Royapettah. He then proceeded to rent out the units, amassing approximately Rs 27 lakh in advance payments.
The police launched an investigation after Sara filed a complaint upon her return to India. A team led by Inspector from the Royapettah police station confirmed the allegations and registered a case against Ashok. He was arrested on August 20, 2025, and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
When Sara confronted Ashok about the fraudulent activity, he reportedly threatened her with murder, leaving her fearful for her safety. She temporarily stayed in Perungudi and later filed a formal police complaint.
The arrest highlights the importance of property owners taking necessary precautions to secure their properties, especially when they're not in occupation. The police are likely to investigate if there are any other properties that may have been similarly targeted .
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
