The Thoppumpady Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on Monday sent Maharajan Petchimuthu, 41, from Virugumbakkam in Chennai, the alleged kingpin of an illegal money-lending racket, to police custody for 10 days.
The judge granted his custody for detailed interrogation on a petition filed by the investigation team. Earlier, the court witnessed dramatic scenes when the prosecution sought to continue the hearing even after granting his custody. Subsequently, the proceedings for the day were called off at once.
Officials said the accused would be subjected to detailed interrogation by a police team led by DCP (Administration) P.C. Sajeevan. The focus of the investigation will be the extent of the racket’s operation in Kochi, they said.
Maharajan was arrested under various sections of the Kerala Money Lenders Act and the Kerala Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act from Chennai. He was brought to Kochi on Sunday. The court granted him bail for a day on Sunday.
The Palluruthy police had registered a case based on a complaint filed by Philip, a resident of Kadavanthra, who alleged that Maharajan had collected huge interests from him though he had repaid the loan amounting to ₹45 lakh. According to the complaint, the accomplices of Maharajan collected money from him after threatening him.
The police had earlier arrested three accomplices of Maharajan in connection with the case.