Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Two arrested in theft case and cash recovered

— Photo: V.Ganesan

The cash seized from the accused, on display at the Egmore police station on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: One more person, an autorickshaw driver, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the theft of over Rs.11 lakh from a trader belonging to Rajasthan.

The action followed a complaint from Mohammad Anis Khan of Alwar district, Rajasthan, that cash in a box kept in his hotel room was missing on Sunday night. Commissioner of Police G. Nanchil Kumaran had directed the Egmore police to register a case.

Investigations revealed that Mr Khan had come to the city a week ago and conducted exhibition-cum-sale of artificial gems and jewelleries in some hotels. Along with his staff, he stayed in a hotel in Egmore.

In the early hours on Monday, he found that the cash box containing over Rs 11 lakh was missing. He also found that one of his staff, Usman Khan, was absconding. Joint Commissioner of Police (Central) P. Balasubramanian formed six special teams.

Inquiries revealed that Usman Khan had left the hotel around midnight in an autorickshaw with a big box. The police checked with airlines and found that none by that name had taken a flight. They also alerted major check-posts and railway police.

They then zeroed in on the autorickshaw that the accused took. When they questioned its driver, he confessed to having taken Usman Khan and dropped him at Guduvanchery.

Based on his confession, police alerted Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kumbakonam. Police secured Usman Khan near the Kumbakonam bus stand and he was in possession of the cash.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Triplicane) M. Ramasubramani told reporters on Tuesday that the accused had discarded the cash box he took from the hotel in a place near Guduvanchery and replaced it in two bags, following a suggestion of the autorickshaw driver. Based on Usman Khan’s confession, the special team recovered the abandoned box too.

The autorickshaw was seized and the duo arrested, he added. A special team recovered Rs.11.06 lakh and deposited the same with the court. The Egmore police registered a case under IPC Section 381 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master) and others against the accused.

Mr Kumaran commended the team members and the officers at Kumbakonam for recovering the stolen property within 24 hours and arresting the accused.

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