Police allege he took payment to procure a foreign-made car but never delivered it.
Police in Chennai have arrested Anup Sumith Fernandes, 45, on suspicion of defrauding a private company of 26 million rupees. The vehicle was intended for official use.
Ramkumar, a company director, approached Fernandes in 2024, according to The Hindu. Fernandes allegedly promised to source the car through a private firm in Hyderabad and deliver it within 40 days of receiving full payment. The company transferred the money in two instalments.
Police say Fernandes neither procured the vehicle nor returned the funds despite repeated demands. Teynampet police opened an investigation after Ramkumar filed a complaint. Investigators later learned that Fernandes had left India and issued a lookout circular.
He was detained at Mumbai airport on October 5 after arriving from Qatar. Chennai police brought him back to the city. A court remanded him in custody on Wednesday. The allegations have not been tested in court.