(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Ramakrishna Reddy, the chairman and managing director of leading realty firm Marg Group, was arrested for alleged fraud following complaints from customers in Chennai last week.
The Marg group had built several residential townships, airports, power utilities, ports and other infrastructure projects in the past decade.
Trouble started after discrepancies cropped up in the sale of 250 flats constructed on 630 acres under the New Chennai Township Private Limited near Seenakuppam village.
Abdul Mansoor, one of the complainants, said though he had paid Rs2.5mn for a flat, Marg had not registered or executed the sale deed.
Reddy was arrested when other complainants claimed he had sold flats on lease to expatriate Indians and outsiders instead of members of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as stipulated in the government rules of that area.
Police are also investigating other Marg companies.
Meanwhile Sekar Reddy, a mining baron and road contractor, who was arrested last December for illegally converting Rs1.7bn in new currency after the November 8 demonetisation, has moved the Madras High Court to quash the case. He cited inconclusive evidence and legal discrepancies.
The court has posted the case to December 24.
Tamil litterateurNannan dies
Tamil litterateur Ma. Nannan died on November 7 in Chennai.
He was 94 and survived by two daughters.
Born in South Arcot in Cuddalore district, Nannan changed his name Thirugnanasambandam to Nannan.
He studied Tamil at Annamalai University and was closely associated with DravidaMunnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi. He began as a primary school teacher and later became a Tamil professor at Presidency College in Chennai. He was a follower of rationalist leader Periyar with whom he took part in the Quit India movement.
He was a former director of Tamil Development Department and advocated proper pronunciation and use of Tamil language. He has written 75 books on the history and culture of Tamil and set up a trust to reward Tamil scholars annually. He was also involved in social reforms.
He was among the earliest to teach Tamil on Doordarshan in 1993.
Largest nest ofweaver bird found
In a record of sorts, a Zoology student claims to have discovered the largest nest of the Baya weaver bird, (scientific name Ploceus philppinus) at her native village of Reddiyarpatti, about 90km from Tiruchi.
The nest measured 136cm compared to the previous record of 44 cm found in 1987.
Each bird takes nearly 18 days to weave the intricate three-chambered nest with Palmyra and coconut fibres.
The student Priyadarshini said: 'This bird must have returned and built another nest below an old one that has resulted in the unusually long nest.
She recently presented her research at an international biodiversity conference at Mayiladuthurai in Thanjavur district and the Tamil Birder's Meet in Yelagiri hills.
She plans to formally publish her work after more research.
Warehouse firedestroys goods
A major fire at an old theatre being used as a warehouse broke out in Othakkadai near the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court last week.
The fire was sparked by an electrical short circuit at the Sivalinga theatres. It spread to old tyres and other combustible goods stored in the building. Six fire trucks worked hours to extinguish it.
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