Running a call taxi fleet of 170 cars on money allegedly swindled from the public proved costly for a woman graduate and her male accomplice, an engineer, as they were nabbed by police.
Identified as R V Narmada, a BSc graduate and Bharath Kumar, an engineer, the duo had sent advertisements via SMS to gullible customers, promising Rs 5,000 in cash payment for 36 months if vehicle owners attach their cars to the India Track Call Taxi run by them, a police release said.
They were operating 170 cars under the India Track Call Taxi brand name in Koyambedu area in the city.
The duo received Rs 64 lakh from people who wanted to attach their cars with their service, but failed to pay them the monthly amounts as promised, police said.
Acting on complaints, a case was filed and special teams formed after which they were nabbed and initial investigations revealed the two had spent the amount 'lavishly', police said.
Both the suspects were produced before a local court in Egmore and later remanded in Puzhal jail.
Police have warned the public not to fall prey to such advertisements promising to give huge returns, the release said.
