SHILLONG: An employee of a church in Meghalaya has been arrested from a remote village in Chattisgarh’s Raigarh district for fraudulently withdrawing Rs 35 lakh from the church’s bank account.
Anil Tigga, an employee of the Believers Church at Umsaw in the East Khasi Hills district, was arrested from his hometown two days back along with his brother Pankhrasius Tigga and Rs 13 lakh in cash was recovered from them, East Khasi Hills district police chief M Kharkrang said on Tuesaday.
According to Kharkrang, as soon as the case was registered, BK Mishra, Inspector, Laban Police Station, swung into action.
The officer arrived at a village in Raigarh, and raided the house and during the search operation Rs 13 lakh was recovered.
According to Kharkrang, the brother of the accused, Pankhrasius was arrested for abetting the crime and later the main accused Anil, was arrested on December 27 after pain staking effort by the team with the help of Kapu Police Station (Chattisgarh) from his hideout.
Kharkrang said that accused persons were produced in the Court of Judicial Magistrate in Chattisgarh which granted transit remand of the accused.
On interrogation, it was learnt that Anil had opened an account in Punjab National bank, Shillong on December 16 and deposited Rs 20 lakh which was a part of the amount fraudulently withdrawn. The account has been frozen.
The matter was brought to the notice of the police by church leader Rev Samkutty Issac on December 18 alleging Tigga had fraudulently withdrawn Rs 35 lakh by forging his signature after which a case was registered.
According to the SP, the accused had provided a false address to the church.
Both the accused were produced in a court in Shillong on Tuesday. The court remanded them to seven-day police custody.