The incident took place on Wednesday in Pallikaranai, in southern Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Police have arrested all four suspects in connection with the robbery.
According to local police, the victim, identified as Ajay, was in the Pallikaranai area when he was confronted by the group. The suspects allegedly forced him into an auto-rickshaw and demanded that he hand over his cash and valuables.
Ajay told them he had no money or expensive possessions with him. Although he may have hoped that his lack of valuables would persuade the men to let him go, the situation took a more serious turn. The suspects allegedly assaulted him before devising another way to obtain money.
Rather than abandoning their attempt, the robbers forced Ajay to use a mobile phone application to apply for a loan while he was still inside the auto-rickshaw. The application was approved within a short period, according to the account of the incident.
The suspects then took Ajay to a nearby ATM, where the newly obtained funds were withdrawn. The group reportedly made off with ₹9,500 in cash.
Before leaving, the suspects released Ajay but took his mobile phone as well as the money. They subsequently fled the scene, leaving the young man to report the incident to the authorities.
Following Ajay’s complaint, a case was registered at Pallikaranai police station and an investigation was launched. Police said their preliminary investigation helped them identify the four alleged perpetrators, all of whom have since been arrested. The auto-rickshaw allegedly used during the robbery was also seized.
The incident highlights a disturbing dimension of robbery involving digital financial services. Mobile lending applications can allow eligible users to apply for credit quickly, but the same convenience can be exploited by criminals who use threats or physical violence to force victims to obtain funds on their behalf.
Such incidents can leave victims facing consequences beyond the immediate loss of cash and personal belongings. Where a loan is taken out in a victim’s name, questions may also arise over repayment obligations, the use of personal information and the steps needed to challenge a transaction obtained under coercion.
In Ajay’s case, police have not publicly provided further details about the loan’s repayment arrangements or whether any additional financial measures have been taken to protect him.
The investigation follows the arrest of the four suspects, while the reported circumstances of the robbery underline how criminals can exploit digital lending facilities when a potential victim has no readily available cash.
