Police inspector arrested in Chennai for extortion by threats to implicate businessman in Armstrong murder case

A police inspector in Chennai has been arrested on charges of extorting money from a businessman by allegedly issuing threats to implicate in the case relating to the murder of Tamil Nadu Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader K. Armstrong in July 2022.

The complainant, Akil Kumar Ukkam Raj (35), a gold bullion and share market trader from Old Washermenpet, alleged that Mohammed Buhari, an Inspector of Police who had been working at the S-1 St. Thomas Mount Police Station, threatened to implicate him in the Armstrong murder case and took about ₹40 lakh in the last two years, sources said. The inspector was part of the team that gunned down Thiruvengadam, one of the key suspects in the Armstrong case.

In a petition submitted to Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Amalraj, Mr. Raj alleged that the police inspector had repeatedly demanded money from him over the past two years, claiming that a mobile phone number linked to him had surfaced during the investigation into the Armstrong murder case.

The complainant said he had shared the mobile number with an acquaintance, lawyer Mottai Krishnan, in 2018 and had no links to the murder case. He alleged that the policeman initially demanded ₹20 lakh to ensure that he was not named as an accused and subsequently collected additional amounts from him on several occasions.

According to the complaint, Mr. Buhari visited his residence on Saturday (August 1, 2026) morning and demanded another ₹5 lakh. The businessman alleged that the officer threatened to falsely implicate him in a criminal case and searched his house along with three other policemen. He further alleged that the cash was later handed over to a head constable near Washermenpet Metro station before the Inspector left the area.

In a statement, the police said, a man identified as Akhil Kumar of Old Washermenpet lodged a complaint alleging that Mr. Buhari, had threatened to falsely implicate and arrest him in the Armstrong murder case.

According to the complaint, the police inspector had allegedly collected more than ₹35 lakh from him over the past two years, citing various reasons. Further, on August 2, Inspector Mohammed Buhari allegedly visited his residence and threatened him in the name of an inquiry related to narcotics, forcing him to hand over ₹5 lakh to a person identified as Srinivasan, the police said.

Following the complaint, a case was registered at the C-2 Elephant Gate Police Station and an investigation was initiated. Based on the evidence and statements gathered during the investigation, police arrested the police inspector Mohammed Buhari and Srinivasan.

The two were produced before the VIII Metropolitan Magistrate Court in George Town, Chennai. Subsequently, they were remanded in judicial custody as per the court’s orders.

Further investigation is underway.