Main accused in DD scam is a Lankan

The main accused in the bogus demand draft scam Suleman Riyaz Shaikh Mohammad Ali Riyaz (50), who is already in police custody, has been found to be a Sri Lankan citizen. His police custody was extended till October 27 last evening.

Suleman has been living in India illegally for 17 years at Chembur in suburban Mumbai. However, his original residence is at a place north of Colombo, police said.

The city police arrested him on October 14 at Mumbai as he allegedly issued two bogus DDs of Punjab National Bank, amounting to Rs.93,400, to Shahibhushan Ramidhami, proprietor of the HP Computer store in Nishant Tower on Gandhi Road here against the purchase of two laptops.

He failed to produce any proof of Indian citizenship during the last seven days. After coming to know that he is a foreign national living illegally in India, offences under relevant sections were also registered against him.

The Kotwali police would now move to Sri Lanka for further investigation. Earlier, Suleman's accomplices Chetan Sharma alias Ashok Mehta of Siliguri in West Bengal and Zanak Dholkiya of Vasai-Thane were arrested. Police suspect that Suleman has been running a racket of purchasing electronic gadgets and ornaments by issuing bogus DD for years together. (Source: Times of India)