Chennai woman arrested for loan extortion and harassment

A woman named V. Latha has been arrested in Chennai for extortion and harassment. The police took action after another woman, Rajalakshmi, reported severe intimidation related to a loan. Latha, who is 58 years old, is accused of forcing Rajalakshmi to pay high interest rates. The situation began in March 2023 when Rajalakshmi borrowed Rs 13 lakh from Latha to pay medical bills for her injured brother. Initially, Latha collected Rs 78,000 monthly. However, she later increased the interest, prompting harassment when Rajalakshmi could not keep up with the payments. Latha and her daughter allegedly visited Rajalakshmi's home, where they threatened her and her mother. They forced Rajalakshmi to sign blank stamp papers and claimed she owed Rs 20 lakh. They also pressured her to transfer property as repayment. After enduring months of abuse, Rajalakshmi finally reported Latha to the police. Following the investigation, authorities arrested Latha and charged her with extortion and harassment. The police have encouraged others experiencing similar situations, especially with illegal moneylending, to come forward. The police commissioner praised the officers for their prompt response in this case.