Overview
- A complaint by trader Akil Kumar led Greater Chennai Police to register a case after he alleged Inspector Mohammed Buhari demanded roughly ₹35–₹40 lakh over two years by threatening to link him to the murder probe.
- The complainant says Buhari pressed for another ₹5 lakh during a visit to his home on Saturday, August 1, 2026, and that cash was handed over near Washermanpet Metro station.
- Police arrested Inspector Mohammed Buhari and a man named Srinivasan, produced them before the VIII Metropolitan Magistrate Court in George Town on August 4, and they were remanded to judicial custody.
- Buhari had previously taken part in high-profile operations tied to the Armstrong case, including the July 2024 police shooting that killed suspect Thiruvengadam, which investigators note may explain his claimed access to probe details.
- The CBI continues to lead the wider Armstrong murder investigation while city police probe whether other officers were involved and whether investigative leads are being misused to extort civilians, a development that could prompt reviews of conduct and evidence handling.