BJP loyalist, wife arrested in Puducherry for duping dairy farmers of Rs 32 lakh

CUDDALORE: The crime branch in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday arrested a BJP loyalist and his wife on charges of duping more than 70 dairy farmers of around Rs 32 lakh two years ago. The arrested couple were identified as K Selvakumar, 37, and S Sudha, 38, of Thavalakuppam in Puducherry.
Police action came after a direction from DIG (Villupuram range).
Police said Selvakumar and his wife, who established a cold storage unit stocking and marketing milk and milk-related products, had procured milk from more than 70 dairy farmers between 2016 and 2018 but failed to settle their dues. The farmers, after a prolonged tussle for payment, approached the district revenue and agriculture officials who held peace talks with the couple and aggrieved farmers.
Police said Selvakumar after agreeing to settle the dues of farmers, closed the unit without any notice and 'absconded'.
One of the farmers, K Pavadai, 65 from Panruti, Cuddalore district, lodged a complaint with the police in 2018. Almost two years later, police registered a case against Selvakumar and Sudha under sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 506 (1) (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 120-B (punishment of criminal conspiracy). of the Indian Penal Code and arrested them. Police produced them before a magistrate, who remanded the couple in judicial custody.
Selvakumar, who nurses political ambitions, made a publicity stunt by launching a restaurant called 'Modi Makkal Unavagam' (named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi) serving food at an affordable price.
Nominated MLA and Puducherry BJP president V Saminathan formally inaugurated the hotel a couple of days ago.