Chennai

Acting on a tip-off that the accused were hiding in Vadapalani, a special team probing the Kerala trader case picked up Shamsundar Singh (44) from Nanguneri, Dilli alias Michael (29), Syed Mohammed Hussain alias Jahir (30), Vijayakumar (26) (all three from Sriperumbudur), Amudhavanan (30) from Pozhichalur and Jail Singh (38) from Kumaran Nagar. 

In a subsequent search on the hideout conducted by the special team, an unpolished diamond worth around Rs 7 lakh, jewels weighing two-and-a-half sovereigns, a pistol and six bullets were recovered. Police said that Shamsundar Singh has four murder cases pending against him. 

Police said that the diamond trader Suraj, who hails from Alleppey in Kerala, already knew two of the accused, Dilli and Amudhavanan. The duo had met Suraj on June 4 at a hotel in Periyamet and invited him to Forum Mall in the guise of discussing ‘business’ issues. 

However, when Suraj went there on June 5, the duo took him to Mohan Timber Traders on Arcot Road in Vadapalani, where a group of men threatened and robbed him of his valuables. 

Later, they took him in a Sumo car and dropped him off on the by-pass road near Porur. Following this, Suraj lodged a complaint at Virugambakkam police station on June 9, based on which a special team was formed to nab the gang. After investigations, the gang members were arrested from its Vadapalani hideout.

Shamsundar’s history: 

Shamsundar Singh, who is known as SSS in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli circles, is said to belong to a influential family in Idaiyanvilai town, which falls be-tween the two districts. He has been associated with a sand-mining mafia in Thoothukudi district and has a few cases pending against him. He is also said to have been an aide of a woman politician from the region.

Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!

Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!

Click here for iOS

Click here for Android