7 months on, students, ex-staff held for robbery

An SUV, a premium two-wheeler and Rs 2 lakh in cash were seized from the gang, while a hunt is on for another accused who is absconding. 

The accused were identified as K Rajasekar (25) of Tenkasi, an MBA graduate who was an employee of the audit firm; N Dakshinamoorthy (20) of Udayarpatti, a diploma holder in mechanical engineering; A Manikanda Boopathy (22) of Sindupoondurai, final-year BE student of PSN Engineering College in Tirunelveli; and S Velapparaja (21), a final-year LLB student of Dr Ambedkar Global Law Institute, Tirupati. Rajasekar had quit the company a few months after the robbery incident, but police did not suspect him then. 

On August 30 last year, when an audit firm staff Thavamanikandan was returning to office after drawing Rs 19.54 lakh from a bank in Adayalampattu, a group of men intercepted him and attacked him with a knife before fleeing the spot with the money.Months later, police finally received a breakthrough about the robbery gang when they secured a person in the city a few days ago in connection with another burglary case. Based on his inputs, a special team led by inspector J Easwaran went to Tirunelveli from where the four were arrested. 

“Rajasekar wanted to make quick buck to ‘enjoy’ life and decided to loot the office he was employed at. He explained how the money was being taken from his office to deposit at different banks on a daily basis to his friends in his hometown. Together, they conceived the plan to rob the person carrying money. They came to Chennai, robbed and went back home,” said an officer investigating the case. Police have launched a hunt for Thangavelsamy, another accused who drove the car during the heist, who is absconding.