World · South & Central Asia · 19 hrs ago
Chennai sanitation worker arrested over alleged five-month salary fraud
A sanitation worker was arrested in Chennai over an alleged salary fraud involving a private contractor that handles municipal cleaning.
Police say records showed his mother, Mahalakshmi, as a cleaner in Saligramam, but she never came to work.
About ₹99,000 was paid into her son Pandian’s bank account for five months of wages.
Pandian also worked for the contractor as a cleaner.
Investigators say supervisor Karthikeyan helped arrange the payments and received a monthly commission; these are allegations in the case.
Police arrested Pandian and jailed him, and say they are searching for Karthikeyan.
Police arrested sanitation worker Pandian, 29, over alleged salary fraud involving a woman recorded as working but who reportedly never attended work.
The salary was sent to the bank account of Mahalakshmi’s son for five months, while she was listed as a sanitation worker.
Police said supervisor Karthikeyan was also involved and received a monthly commission from Pandian.
Karthikeyan is reported to be absconding, and police are searching for him.
Reports identify the work site as Saligramam, Ward 128, but differ on which Chennai corporation zone it is in.
- Who
- Sanitation worker Pandian, 29, was arrested; supervisor Karthikeyan is also accused and is being sought.
- What
- Police allege that salary was paid for work Mahalakshmi did not perform, with the money sent to her son Pandian’s bank account.
- When
- The records covered November 8, 2025, to April 2, 2026; the arrest was reported on October 18 or 19, 2026.
- Where
- Saligramam, Ward 128, Chennai. Reports differ on the corporation zone.
- Why
- Police allege that the salary payments were part of a fraud and that Karthikeyan received a monthly commission.
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Records reportedly listed Mahalakshmi as a sanitation worker and showed salary payments sent to Pandian’s bank account.
The company reportedly found that Mahalakshmi had not attended work and complained to police.
Dinamalar reported that police arrested Pandian and were searching for Karthikeyan.
- Accused worker
- Pandian, 29
- Supervisor sought
- Karthikeyan
- Recorded work period
- November 8, 2025–April 2, 2026
- Monthly salary shown
- ₹19,800
- Total reported payment
- ₹98,930 in two reports; ₹99,000 in Dinamalar
- Items seized
- ₹40,000, two bank passbooks and one mobile phone