Neighbour among 5 ‘cops’ held for burgling bizman

The investigation with the arrested revealed that their actual plan was to kidnap victim SP Pandian, an LPG stove dealer, and demand a ransom from his family, but a ‘fearless’ Pandian made them change plans. They then locked him up with family members in a room in the guise of searching the house and escaped with jewellery, cash and phones.

Assistant Commissioner (Ashok Nagar) Frank D Ruban said Pandian’s neighbour A Siva first mooted the idea of looting Pandian’s house with a friend, Rooban of Tiruvottiyur. “They worked as house brokers and decided to make a quick buck. They approached Boominathan of Tiruvottiyur, who has several kidnap cases pending against him in Madurai, Virudhunagar and Red Hills. Boominathan, in turn, got in touch with another person in Salem,” said the official.

The gang planned the kidnap for over a month and brought seven men from Salem. After reaching Koyambedu, they were picked up by Boominathan in his car and made to stay in a lodge.

On the day of the incident (December 9), the seven men and Boominathan reached Pandian’s house posing as policemen and robbed the valuables as Pandian refused to go with them.

Police have secured Siva (26), Rooban (36), Boominathan’s car driver S Sathish (31), E Rajendran (40), at whose barbershop Boominathan hatched his plans, and S Ajithkumar (26) from Salem.

However, the looted jewellery and cash are said to be with Boominathan and another suspect in Salem. A special team is camping in Salem to secure the remaining seven suspects.

Meanwhile, Maduravoyal police arrested an absconding accused in the robbery attempt at a private college chancellor’s house by posing as CBI officials.

While five men were arrested in the case, R Jothi (44) of Avadi was nabbed on Sunday and a car seized from him.

The gang barged into the victim’s house posing as CBI officials and demanded Rs 10 lakh not to arrest him for idol theft.