2 Chinese nationals among 4 held for running instant loan app

In yet another instance of cybercrime, the Chennai police have arrested two Chinese and as many Indian nationals for allegedly operating instant loan apps. The two Indians had been operating the call centre from Bengaluru and had employed over 100 people to provide quick online loans.

Chennai: Two Chinese and as many Indian nationals have been arrested for allegedly operating instant loan apps, police said.

The investigation, based on a complaint, revealed the prime accused to be operating from China, the police said.

The two Indians, identified as Premalatha and Bhavan, had been operating the call centre from Bengaluru and had employed over 100 people to provide quick online loans, they said.

Each employee had been asked to sanction instant loans to at least 10 people in a week and threatened of being sacked if they failed to do so, said the police.

The Chinese nationals ran the call centre with the assistance of the two Indians.

All of them were arrested in Bengaluru on December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2021, according to Chennai Commissioner of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal.

The arrest was made following Ganesan's complaint stating that he was subjected to agony, abuse, threats and harassment by the online loan app firms over repayment with a higher rate of interest, the commissioner said in a press release.

It was also revealed that another Chinese national was the head of the call centre and he operated from China, the release said.

"We are investigating whether the Chinese are running loan apps targeting only India," the Commissioner further said.

Of late, there have been many instances of app-based money-lenders harassing borrowers over repayment, which led to suicides.

(With inputs from PTI)