Ex-DMK MPs kin held for land fraud

CHENNAI: A realtor and brother of a former DMK MP, wanted in connection with a 2008 case relating to the sale of a land in Koyambedu using fake papers, was arrested on Thursday.Vilvamani (49) of Ayanavaram and younger sibling of Ex-Sriperumbudur DMK MP A Krishnaswamy, had been evading arrest in the case since 2008. “In 2008, Vilvamani forged papers pertaining to a 5.1-acre land in Koyambedu, owned by eight persons including actor Vijayashanthi,” ACP, CCB (land grab), J Chandrasekaran told Express.  The actor’s share was 1.5 acre,” he said.The ACP claimed that Vilvamani forged a sale deed for the land - which had a market value of `130 crore - to show that it belonged to one Nayagan of Koyambedu, and that after his death had passed on to his legal heirs — his wife Prema, daughters Vijayalakshmi and Chitra and son Sathish. “The agreed to the deception for a commission of `25 lakh,” he said. The wheeler-dealer then sold the land for `8.5 crore to Dubai-based businessman Prakash Bhojwani. Meanwhile, getting a whiff of the scam, Umapathi, co-owner of the land and a realtor himself, lodged a police complaint. “Prema, her daughters and son were arrested, but Vilvamani went underground,” the ACP said.Acting on a tip-off that he had resurfaced and was negotiating the sale of the same piece of property for `70 crore to Mathew of Chrompet and Ramesh of Gudiyattam, the sleuths stepped up vigil. On Thursday, they arrested Vilvamani and booked him under  charges including cheating and forgery.