Thrissur ∙ Praveen Rana (37), the owner of Safe and Strong Chitty Company, who was arrested in the investment fraud of crores, gave a statement to the police that he did not have even 10 paise in his account. When Rana was arrested from a shed in a granite quarry in Devarayapuram, Pollachi found only Rs 1000 and change in his possession. 6 hard disks and a laptop were also recovered. The hard disk is said to contain critical information about Rana’s financial transactions. Apart from the fraud charge, Rana was also charged under the Prevention of Unlawful Investments (BUDS) Act. He will be produced in court today.
It is in Rana’s statement that he was ruined by Dhurth and his business partner in Kochi, Shaukat, a native of Kannur, took Rs 16 crore from him. Police also did not believe Rana’s claim that only 52 cents of land purchased in Palakkad remained as property. Rana’s argument is that he made 2 films and held wedding receptions in 14 districts to become a hero. However, the police indicate that the savings were withdrawn as cash and transferred to benami names. The police are checking the property details of Rana’s 4 associates.
More than 100 complaints have been received against Praveen Rana from different parts of the state. It is reported that more than thirty cases have been registered. Kannur Town Station has received 5 complaints yesterday that Praveen Rana has extorted Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 9.5 lakh.
The police found from the CCTV footage that Praveen Rana escaped from the flat in Chilavannur, Kochi at 6 p.m. and reached Angamali in a luxury car. Realizing that this car might be followed by the police, he phoned his relative in Thrissur and left Kerala in another car. There were 4 people in the car including Rana. It is said that the help of a lawyer in Kochi has also been obtained. Reached Coimbatore at 7 am. The CCTV footage of Paliekara and Panniangara toll plazas helped the police. Lack of cash made escape plans impossible. That is how Joy, a native of Perumbavoor, decided to take refuge in a rented quarry in Devarayapuram.
He reached the quarry with Rs 75,000 earned by selling the wedding ring. That amount was spent there. Although he stayed in the quarry by changing his name and appearance, the police chased him and arrested him. Crucial clues have been obtained from examining hard disks and laptops.
English Summary: Praveen Rana says his bank account is blank
