The city police busted a self-styled vigilante group that had been operating inside Koyambedu fruit and vegetable market, collecting bribes.
For over a decade, the group collected money in the guise of donations for traders’ welfare from hawkers and farmers coming to the market, mostly on festival days.
On Friday, three persons were arrested and uniforms, badges and batons were seized.
According to the Koyambedu police, prime suspects S. Anbu (55), G. Ganesan (70) and C. Manoharan (42) floated the market vigilante group and wore khaki uniforms with badges, batons and whistles.
“The men carried out rounds throughout the wholesale market, and targeted hawkers and farmers from the suburbs and neighbouring districts, who came to sell their harvest,” said an investigating officer attached to Koyambedu police station.
In the name of donations, the suspects extorted Rs. 50 to Rs. 500 each, and even issued a receipt in the name of the group.
Following a complaint to the police, a special team led by inspector Sivakumar was formed.
As it was Vinayaka Chathurti on Friday, the suspects arrived at the market in uniform and started forcibly collecting money from the large number of hawkers and farmers gathered there.
The police team soon rounded them up and arrested them.
After interrogation, the men were remanded to judicial custody, said the police.
