Chennai: Conman uses actor's name to steal mobiles

Chennai: A man, who had been relieving cell phones from youth after promising them he could get them a chance to act in movies with leading stars like Vijay, was caught by the public on Sunday morning in Triplicane.

Police seized 27 mobile phones from the suspect, K Pandiyan (40) of Devakottai in Sivagangai district. According to the police, two youths — Mani (21), a mechanic and Aadhi (23), both from Triplicane — had got in touch with Pandiyan who promised to get them roles in a Tamil movie starring Vijay. Believing him, the two agreed to meet him in Triplicane on Sunday, the police said.

Pandiyan took the two youths to a secluded spot after promising to take them to the shooting spot. He also asked them to hand over their mobile phones because cell phones are not allowed on the set.

When the two refused to hand over the phones, he allegedly threatened them at knife point and asked them to hand over their mobile phones. The duo, however, managed to escape from his clutches and sought the help of local people who overpowered Pandiyan and later handed him over to the Triplicane police.

Investigations revealed that June 21 he had cheated 15 schoolchildren in the same manner in Tondiarpet and robbed their mobiles phones.

A few days ago, he had tricked 16 engineering college students at Ranipet in Vellore in similar fashion. He told the police that he sold most of the mobile phones in T Nagar and Burma Bazaar.