Owner Of Aasife Biriyani Hotel Chain Held On Cheating Charge

Chennai: The owner of a popular chain of restaurants has been arrested on the charge of cheating a financier by presenting a 'fake' demand draft for Rs two crore, police said today. Aasife Ahmed Chaudhary, proprietor of 'Aasife Biryani,' was arrested from Tuticorin in southern Tamil Nadu yesterday on the basis of a complaint by the financier, police said. Investigation revealed that the DD was taken for only Rs 200 but forged as one drawn for Rs two crore, they said.

The complainant had alleged that he had lent Rs 5.70 crore to Chaudhury in 2014 for his business expansion and it had not been repaid. Recently, the accused had given cheques and a demand draft for over Rs two crore, police said. However, the cheques bounced and the DD proved to be 'fake,' they said, adding, the complainant subsequently filed a police complaint against Chaudhury. Incidentally, a separate case of "attempt to murder" had also been registered against Chaudhury and his second wife for allegedly threatening the financier, police said.

PTI