A noted female Telugu TV serial artiste who was on the run after allegedly cheating scores of junior artistes to the tune of Rs 5 crore after collecting amounts from them for running a private chit fund business was arrested today along with her family members.
B Vijaya Rani, who acted in various serials and movies, started illegal chit business and suffered losses and to overcome the financial needs she took loans at higher interest rates from financers and unable to repay the chit amounts to chit holders she suddenly disappeared, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detective Department) G Pala Raju told reporters.
The police is in the process of attaching Rani’s properties, vehicles, jewellery and cash, the DCP said, adding that she started the private chit fund around one-and-half years ago and collected chit amounts to the tune of Rs 5 crore from various persons including 72 TV artists to the tune of Rs 2.20 crore.
However, Rani who was produced before the media along with other accused, claimed that she had not cheated anyone. “I myself was cheated. I don’t have a penny even to feed myself,” she asserted in tears.
Earlier, victims had alleged that the woman artiste made payments during initial months, but failed to pay depositors for the past five months, after which she went absconding in mid-March.