The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested two people, including a woman, for allegedly renting houses in the name of a fictitious company and subsequently leasing them to customers online, collecting around ₹2.11 crore in the process. Police said the accused had taken properties from 34 homeowners in and around Chennai and allegedly leased them to customers for substantial amounts. They allegedly neither paid regular rent to the homeowners nor returned the lease amounts collected from customers.
The arrested accused have been identified as 59-year-old Helenrose of Thiruverkadu and 50-year-old Premkumar of Chitlapakkam. According to police, the two operated a company called Imayam Homes Property Management, which was found to be a fictitious entity during the investigation.
The case came to light after a complaint by Fathima Beevi. Police said she came across an advertisement on OLX in 2023 offering houses for rent and lease in Chennai and its suburbs through the company allegedly run by Helenrose and Premkumar. She contacted the company and visited its office on Sridevi Garden Main Road in Valasaravakkam.
House Leased for ₹7 Lakh
According to police, the company leased a house owned by Manikandan to Fathima Beevi for ₹7 lakh. The accused had allegedly taken the same property on rent from Manikandan in the name of their company and subsequently offered it to Fathima on lease.
After some time, Manikandan allegedly stopped receiving rent from the accused and asked Fathima to vacate the property. When she investigated the matter, she allegedly discovered that the accused had taken the house from its owner on rent and then leased it to her after collecting ₹7 lakh.
The accused subsequently allegedly went into hiding. Fathima then approached the Chennai Police Commissioner and sought action against the accused as well as recovery of her money. Based on her complaint, the Central Crime Branch registered a case and launched an investigation.
34 Houses Allegedly Rented and Re-Leased
During the investigation, police allegedly found that Helenrose and Premkumar had taken 34 houses from their respective owners on rent in the name of Imayam Homes Property Management. The properties were subsequently shown to prospective customers and offered to them on lease.
According to police, the accused collected around ₹2.11 crore from customers through online payments, bank transfers and cash. They allegedly failed to pay rent to the 34 homeowners and also did not return the lease amounts collected from customers.
After allegedly collecting the money, the accused reportedly shut down the fictitious company and went into hiding. Investigators subsequently began tracing their financial transactions and examining rental and lease-related documents.
Accused Arrested After Going Into Hiding
Following an intensive investigation, the Central Crime Branch arrested Helenrose and Premkumar on Friday. Police questioned the two accused and seized documents related to rental and lease transactions from them.
Investigators are now examining the transactions involving all 34 properties and determining the number of people affected by the alleged fraud. Police are also investigating the total amount collected through different payment channels and whether any other person was involved in operating the alleged fictitious company.
Financial records, property documents, rental agreements and lease papers are also being examined as the investigation continues. Further action is expected based on the evidence gathered during the probe.
