Tamil Nadu: Two Arrested For Stealing Debit Card From Dying COVID-19 Patient

The two workers also withdrew Rs 8.67 lakh cash from the patient's bank account.

An arrested man with his handcuff (Image For Representation)

Chennai: The Coimbatore city police arrested two guest workers for stealing two debit cards of a dying coronavirus patient last year. The two workers also withdrew Rs 8.67 lakh cash from the patient's bank account.

According to a report on Times of India, the issue came to light after the husband of the patient, M Krishnasamy of Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, lodged a complaint with Peelamedu investigation wing police special sub-inspector Jaishankar on Thursday. 

In the complaint, the complainant said that his wife K Yasodha was admitted to KMCH Hospital with COVID-19 symptoms and she passed away on May 4, 2021. 

However, he said, the belongings of his wife including her wallet and dress materials were not returned after her demise by the hospital authorities. Even her two debit cards which were kept in her wallet to pay for medical expenses were also not returned. 

In this backdrop, he said that he recently approached Union Bank of India, Gobichettipalayam branch and City Union Bank branch at Gobichettipalayam. After checking the bank details, he said that he came to know that only Rs 4,82,710 was withdrawn from the account using the debit card between December 20, 2021 and March 24, 2022. The accused also had withdrawn Rs 3.85 lakh from City Union Bank account during the same time.

Following this, he gave a complaint recently and the police registered a case under punishment for theft under Indian Penal Code. 

Later, the police zeroed down on the accused and arrested the persons identified as Atul Chgogai and Raj Panging, both of Assam.