Chennai: Police have arrested a 28-year-old man for stealing a mobile phone from a wheelchair-bound elderly man and cheating his son of 3,500 through a fake accident call near Periamet. The victim, Kadhar Basha, 65, from Ranipet district, had come to the city a few days ago to spend time at a mosque in Periamet during Ramzan.
Police said on Saturday afternoon, while Kadhar Basha was near the mosque, a man approached him claiming that his phone battery had died and requested to make an urgent call. After borrowing the phone, the man engaged the elderly victim in conversation, asking about his family members and learning their names. He then fled the spot with the phone when the victim was distracted.The accused later called Kadhar Basha’s son and falsely informed him that his father had met with a road accident and needed money for hospital expenses. Believing the story, the son transferred 3,500 to the accused through a UPI transaction.Kadhar Basha realized he had been cheated after speaking with his son and filed a complaint at Periamet police station.After reviewing CCTV footage in the area, police identified and arrested the suspect, Sameer Basha, 28, from Avadi, on Saturday. Police recovered the stolen mobile phone and 1,900 in cash from him.
