Police register 20 cases, seize ₹39 lakh in marathon raids targeting loan sharks in Ernakulam

The Ernakulam Range police on Tuesday registered at least 20 cases during a drive targeting illegal moneylenders. The police seized around ₹39 lakh allegedly acquired by offenders in different cases by charging exorbitant interest rates from borrowers, the police said in a release.

As many as 26 vehicles, including seven cars and 13 motorbikes, were confiscated in the raids, branded as Operation Shylock, that started around 7 a.m. and continued till late night. The other items seized from the offenders include 62 stamp papers, eight promisory notes, 86 vehicle registration certificates, and 17 property documents, the police said.

Raids were conducted at 298 spots by nearly 2,000 police personnel. Seven cases were registered in Kottayam district, while five were filed in Idukki. Four cases each were registered within the Ernakulam Rural police limits and in Alappuzha, the police said.

In Ernakulam rural, the four cases were registered in Aluva, Nedumbassery, Paravur, and Kuruppampady.