Most-wanted8217; white-collar crook nabbed

Wanted by the Chennai police in a number of white-collar crimes, Mohammad Miyaz Khan, who is known by a number of names, was later sent to 14 days jail up to June 4 by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Central P.S. Gill here today.

Also known as Mohammad Yusuf, alias Mohammad Khan, alias Mohammad Waheb, son of Mian Khan, and a resident of village Tirunal Valley, district Katta Bomman in Tamil Nadu, Khan is reported to have cheated and defrauded people in Madras to the tune of Rs 50 to 60 lakh. He is also reported to carry an award of Rs 25,000 for his apprehension.

After knowing about his arrest here, India8217;s Most Wanted serial producer Shohaib Ilyazi said: quot;I am glad that the information is correct and Khan is finally in the police net. We thought he was in the UAE..quot;

A 102 drop-out, 27-year-old Khan was married in 1996, and was staying with his wife in a rented accomodation in Sector 8 here. He told The Indian Express that he had brought about Rs 6 lakh with him when he came here about six months ago from Chennai with the intention of settling down here. quot;But since I could not establish myself in the silk business and had finished my money, I was now planning to sell off my computer and other costly things.quot; He said he had not committed any such crime here and wanted to live a normal life. quot;I even applied for a jobs but could not elicit any response despite having sent 50 biodatas to various places.quot; He earlier wanted to settle in Kerala, but failed there also.

After coming here, he initially bought a Maruti 800 and now drives a red Matiz; he claimed that he lived an extragavant life, spending more than Rs 50,000 a month or even more at times. He initially rented a place in Sector 35 for Rs 6,800, then a house in Sector 8 for Rs 6,500 per month, but finally settled for the present two-room set in Sector 8-A for a rent of Rs 4,000. He had told his landlords that he was in the business of silk sarees.

Khan said that he was drawn to crime in order to fulfill his craving for status and high living. He claimed that he never sought out his victims, instead quot;they all used to come to me. It was my good luck.quot;

Explaining his modus operandi, Khan said he used to impress people with his lavish lifestyle. As they were convinced that he was a big-shot it was a simple matter to defraud them. He used throw money around, travel in imported luxury cars 8211; Peugeots and Safaris and was well connected in high society. Through his high-status friends, he would come into contact with other wealthy people.

Besides speaking fluent English, Khan also knew Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu.

Listing some of his quot;favoritequot; swindles, he recalled how he once defrauded a doctor in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu of Rs 10 lakh by promising him a seat in the MGR Medical College, Chennai. He had also defrauded the owner of Murugan Textiles in Chennai for Rs 20 lakh, by promising to get him export orders. He took the victim to Mumbai to make an impression on the man.

He adopted a number of personas 8212; England-returned landscaper, floriculturist, even car rallyist. His hobbies included music and driving. He also had a Peugeot back in Tamil Nadu, which he said had given to Tamil film-producer Shiva for use, till he claimed it back.

He said he ventured into such deeds at the age of 21, starting with his own relatives. His first victim was his cousin, whom he defrauded of Rs 1 lakh in a scrap business deal. He spent the amount on luxuries. When his family grew wise to his deeds, he began to use his tactics on the public.

Though he had told his wife about all his deeds, the two were planning to leave crime for a straight life. The resolve to reform came too late however.