The Avadi City Police have detained under Goondas Act a former BJP functionary and history sheeter for allegedly continuing to indulge in extortion and other criminal acts.
Police said K.R. Venkatesan alias ‘Milagaipodi’ Venkatesan, 58, from Padiyanallur was a functionary of the BJP OBC Morcha and was removed from the party post. He was arrested in 2015 by the Andhra Pradesh police on charges of smuggling red sandalwood to foreign countries. Venkatesan has 49 criminal cases pending against him in Andhra Pradesh, and a history sheet on his name at the Avadi City Police Commissionerate as he was involved in at least five criminal cases in the police limits.
The police said that recently, Deepan Chakravarthi, 41 of Kumadham Nagar, Mugalivakkam approached Venkatesan for help to get back ₹87 lakh from a consumer goods dealer, Ganapathillal, and received ₹1 lakh as advance. Subsequently, Venkatesan joined the opposite side and extorted ₹12 lakh. Deepan Chakravarthi lodged a complaint with the police, based on which Redhills Police arrested Venkatesan, Ganapathilal and Gokul Vasan on June 13.
As Venkatesan faced criminal cases for offences such as extortion, Avadi City Police Commissioner K. Shankar issued orders for his detention under the Goondas Act.
Published – June 21, 2025 12:39 am IST