Bank heist: Murugan sent to 6-day custody

On October 2 last year, gold, diamond and platinum jewellery estimated to be worth Rs 13 crore were reportedly looted from a jewellery showroom by a gang which had gained access by drilling the walls of the outlet and decamped with the valuables. Soon, E Manikandan of Tiruvarur and Kanagavalli were arrested by the Tiruvarur police during a vehicle inspection. After one of the accused, Suresh (28), surrendered himself at Chengam court, ‘Tiruvarur’ Murugan surrendered before the city civil court in Bengaluru. There already were cases pending against Murugan in Bengaluru, sources said.

Upon inquiries with Murugan, he reportedly confessed to the Tiruchy police that he was also behind the Rs 5-crore heist at a bank in No 1 Tollgate here in January 2019. Murugan was subsequently arrested. Meanwhile, with the initial custody period having ended, Murugan was sent to Karnataka again. However, the Tiruchy police appealed to the Karnataka court seeking Murugan’s custody and to have him shifted to Tamil Nadu for further interrogation. Later on January 4, Murugan was brought back to Tamil Nadu and was lodged in the Central prison here in the district.

On Wednesday, Murugan was produced before the Srirangam Magistrate Court where the police appealed for 7 days’ custody of the accused. However, Magistrate Sivakama Sundari granted six days’ custody after Murugan’s counsel urged the court to consider his health condition. The Magistrate also asked the police to produce Murugan before the court by Jan 13.