Chennai: 2 months on, 10th arrest made in Rs 55 lakh Flower Bazaar heist

CHENNAI: In connection with the Rs 55 lakh daylight robbery in the Flower Bazaar area, the police have made the tenth arrest. The latest suspect, identified as Sabir (26) from Karamadai, Coimbatore, was apprehended on Saturday based on intelligence and information extracted from a previously arrested accused.

The case dates back to October 3, 2025, when Nareshkumar (38), a resident of Ritchie Street and owner of a laptop spare parts shop, was waylaid on Muthusamy Salai. He was carrying Rs 55 lakh in two bags to deposit in a bank for a friend. Individuals who followed him on two-wheelers, impersonated police officers, intercepted him, and fled with the cash.

A complaint was registered at the Flower Bazaar police station. Initial breakthroughs came with the arrest of three individuals, Anbarasi (30), Vimal Abhishek Gnanashyam (24), and Gayathri (29), on October 11. Gayathri's husband, Gnanaprakash James (29), was arrested on October 14. Rs 7,14,820 in cash, mobile phones, and a two-wheeler were recovered from them.

The investigation then expanded to Coimbatore. Acting on a tip-off about suspects hiding there, the police team arrested Anwardeen (39) on November 16. His information led to the arrest of Bawa (30) on November 17 and Rupan Chakravarthy (29) in Central Chennai subsequently. Three mobile phones, a two-wheeler, and a car were seized from them.

Two more accused, Senthilkumar (47) and Aravindasamy (32), were arrested on November 19 and 20, respectively.

The chain of arrests continued with the latest, Sabir, who was produced before a court and has been remanded in judicial custody. Police seized one two-wheeler and two mobile phones from him. During interrogation, it was revealed that Sabir already has two prior criminal cases registered against him. Investigations are ongoing to recover the remaining stolen cash and to probe the gang's network.