Tension prevailed at the office of the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore District (Rural) Police, on Saturday when a 44-year-old powerloom owner, Kumar, attempted self-immolation along with his seven-year-old son Ritheesh Kumar.
Later, he told police that he took the extreme step as the jeweller, who had borrowed ₹10 lakh from him, threatened to lodge a police complaint if he insisted that he pay back the money.
The incident happened at 9.45 a.m. at the SP’s office.Policemen overpowered Kumar and sent the father-son-duo to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
Investigations revealed that Kumar had sourced ₹10 lakh from a financier and given it to jeweller Mohanraj in 2015. However, Mohanraj did not return the money though Kumar kept asking for it.
The police said that Mohanraj threatened to file a complaint under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act when Kumar recently asked him to repay the amount.
When Kumar approached the police, they reportedly told him that he might land in trouble if Mohanraj prefers a complaint accusing him of charging exorbitant interest.