Kidnap accused say they gave extorted money to temple, cops disprove claim

While surrendering before the magistrate last week, the main accused, Krishnaraj (29) claimed that his wife refused to take robbed valuables, instead asked him to donate to the Lord Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati.

In fact, Krishnaraj, along with fellow accused Vinoth (29) and Manikandan (23) had even tonsured their heads in a saloon in Chennai – reportedly following the advice given by their advocate – to create an impression that they had gone for the pilgrimage. However, when Vadapalani inspector K Pasupathy grilled them seeking proof of their visit to Tirupati, the gang spilled the beans. Sources said they admitted that the valuables were distributed to their friends in different cities so as to take it back on their return from prison.

The robbed properties, including Rs 33 lakh in cash and 28 sovereigns, were retrieved from Madipakkam and Selaiyur in Chennai, and Karaikudi, Arani and Coimbatore, and the trio were remanded in judicial custody on Thursday. The car that was hired to kidnap the financier from Vadapalani was also seized from a car rental firm in Arumbakkam.

The kidnap happened on May 23, when Krishnaraj took the victims – financier Mohan and his kin Manikkam – in a car in the guise of meeting a pharmaceutical company owner.