CHENNAI: A 61-year-old online trader from Anna Nagar was abducted and assaulted on Friday after a 1,000 crore overseas donation deal he helped facilitate turned sour. A complaint over the incident exposed a suspected scam and led to the arrest of one of the accused.

The victim, F Edwin, was targeted after facilitating a connection between a Dubai-based friend and a Chennai trust, police found.
An officer said Edwin’s friend Saptharishi Banerjee, based in Dubai, claimed he could arrange a ₹1,000 crore donation to a trust in India. In Feb, he asked Edwin if he knew any local trusts that could receive such funds. Edwin introduced Saptharishi to N Ameenuddin Mohammed, 32, of Velachery, who, in turn, connected him with Vaishnavi, the head of a trust named Dhanvantri, and another associate, Moinudeen.
Later, Vaishnavi, Moinudeen, and Ameenuddin travelled to Dubai to meet Saptharishi. During the meeting, Saptharishi told them a private company was ready to transfer the funds but required a commission of 35lakh. Believing the claim, Ameenuddin transferred the amount to Saptharishi.
When the promised donation failed to materialise by March, Ameenuddin allegedly began pressuring Edwin for answers. On Friday, he lured Edwin to Anna Nagar, abducted him, and took him to Ambattur in a car. There, he allegedly called Edwin’s wife Ashley, and demanded that she bring gold jewellery and blank cheques.
Edwin was allegedly assaulted and threatened, with the gang demanding the return of the 35 lakh and warning of dire consequences, including seizure of property documents and valuables. Before fleeing, the group allegedly took 25,000 in cash and five sovereigns of gold jewellery worth more than 3 lakh from Ashley. The couple were later dropped off at a lodge in Ambattur.
Based on their complaint, the Anna Nagar police arrested Ameenuddin on Saturday. He was remanded in judicial custody. Investigations are on.