Three arrested in chain-snatching case in Chennai

Three arrested in Chennai chain-snatching case; police recover ₹1.91 lakh and seize vehicle and mobile phone.

Three persons were arrested by the Ashok Nagar police in a chain-snatching case reported in West Mambalam. The police also recovered ₹1.91 lakh in cash and seized a two-wheeler and a mobile phone from them.

The police said Rajesh Kumar, 42, a resident of Postal Colony 1st Street, West Mambalam, lives with his mother Tamilselvi, 63, and works in a private IT company. On March 14, after returning from a temple, Tamilselvi was climbing the stairs to her house when an unidentified man snatched her nine-sovereign gold chain and fled on a waiting two-wheeler.

Following his complaint, the Ashok Nagar police launched an investigation and arrested the main accused, Srinivasan, 49, of Shanthi Colony, Royapuram, on Friday.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Srinivasan, with the help of his associate Kumaresan, 34, of Kapali Thottam, Mylapore, had pledged the stolen chain at a bank in Mylapore and obtained ₹5 lakh, out of which a commission was paid to Kumaresan. Srinivasan later handed over ₹2 lakh from the amount to a woman named Anita, 34, from Kannagi Nagar. Following this, police arrested Kumaresan and Anita. A sum of ₹1,91,000 was recovered from them. The two-wheeler used in the crime and a mobile phone were also seized.

Further investigation revealed that Srinivasan is a history-sheeter at Royapuram police station and has around 16 prior theft cases against him.