Chennai

The person identified as Pushparajan alias Mohammed Ameer Basha of Tiruvallur, had been at large for the past six years, said police.

“Pushparajan, would roam around in government hospitals in the city looking for elderly women. He would approach them claiming that he could help them to get pension for senior citizens and offer to get benefits under other government schemes. After earning their trust, he would warn them of chain snatchers on the prowl in hospitals and ask them to keep valuables inside their bags. In the guise of helping them, he would wrap the jewels in a paper, but hand them over a different paper with stones or artificial chains inside,” said police. After police received several complaints of similar offences, they collected CCTV footage from all the hospitals and identified him. On Friday, Periamet police nabbed him from a clinic in Perungalathur where he was undergoing treatment.

Police recovered 50 sovereigns from him before he was remanded in judicial custody on Friday. Officials added that Pushparajan had indulged in burglaries as well and was earlier arrested in Chengalpattu.

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