Coimbatore: Five pose as income tax officers, steal Rs 20 lakh from businessman

COIMBATORE: Five men, who posed as income tax officials, cheated a quarry owner of Rs 20 lakh at Kinathukadavu here on Saturday.
They also took away an iPhone, a digital video recorder of CCTV camera and six cheque leaves from him.
“The five-member gang went to K Panchalingam’s house at Kinathukadavu around 1pm on Saturday and introduced themselves as income tax officials. They accused Panchalingam of tax evasion, took away his mobile phone and then locked his house from inside.They found Rs 20 lakh in cash and cheque leaves that Panchalingam had received from others in an almirah,” a police officer said.
When Panchalingam asked them why they did not bring police officers with them, the officer said, they stold him it was because police would arrest him and lodge him in jail for the offence that he had committed. “The five were wearing formal dress with a tie and used fake id cards. They spoke among them in English often.”
The gang told Panchalingam to collect the cash after submitting the original documents at the income tax office at Pollachi and left the spot.
When Panchalingam noticed that the vehicle that the gang used did not have any registration numbers, he grew suspicious and informed the Kinathukadavu police about the incident. Police have registered a case and launched a search for the gang. Further investigation is on.