The police on Monday seized `5,58,740 in cash, cheques, promissory notes and diaries from illegal moneylenders in the city as part of the ongoing initiative to wipe out the menace.
Following the tragic incident in which five members of a family committed suicide in Thiruvananthapuram a few days ago, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had directed the state police to curb the money-lending menace.
According to City Police Commissioner K G James, the drive named ‘Operation Shylock’ would continue in the coming days.
“We had started the drive long back, so it has become a routine process now. Within a period of five months, we have registered around 35 cases. During the past three days, a number of such cases have come to light,” he said.
The Harbour police on Monday arrested Chandran, 42, of Thevera, and registered a case against him. The Mulavukad police arrested Salim Kumar, 43, of Panambukad, and seized documents from him.
In North police station, two cases have been registered against illegal moneylenders. The police arrested Jude Thadevus, 49, of Vaduthala, and seized `36,000 and documents from him.
The Palarivattom police arrested Vijayan, 47, of Vennala, another illegal moneylender, and registered a case against him. The police also seized `1,34,430 and documents from Vijayan.
Cleetus, 65, of Cheranalloor, was arrested by the Cheranalloor police, who also seized promissory notes and blank cheques from him. The Thrikkakkara police have arrested Gopu, 53 of Kakkanad. At the same time, the Ernakulam South police arrested C V George, 58, and Mani, 52, of Kadavantra.
The Hill Palace police arrested Lallu, 42, of Eroor North on Monday, and seized `7,470 and some documents from him. Two cases have been registered at the Kadavantra police station. Naveen Chandra Pai, 64, of Gandhi Nagar, and Midhun Joseph, 26, of Gandhi Nagar were arrested. Shantha, 60, of Eloor was arrested by the Eloor police. Meanwhile, the Hill Palace police and the Palluruthy police arrested Manikantan, 36, of Thripunithura and Madhu,58, of Palluruthy, respectively.
According to Kochi Range IG M R Ajithkumar, the drive to eradicate the money-lending menace would continue in the coming days. He said that the public should be careful while borrowing money from unregistered money-lenders.
According to the police, in most cases, the main cause of the problem was the careless attitude of borrowers.
“When they are in need of money, they would not check the transparency of the money-lenders. Moreover, the illegal moneylenders have more cash to roll out as the sole motive is to cheat the public,” the police said.
“More troubles were reported in cases where the moneylenders grabbed property deeds from borrowers before lending money to them,” they added.