Tenant couple held for theft at Ayanavaram

Police arrested N Manikandan (26) and his wife Susheela (28), who were residing as tenants at the house the elderly woman. Chandra (83), who has been staying alone after all her children were married off, lodged a complaint with the Ayanavaram police on Thursday alleging that gold ornaments weighing 22 sovereigns were stolen from her house. Police questioned N Manikandan (26) and his wife Susheela (28), who were residing as tenants at Chandra’s house. On grilling them further, the couple admitted to have stolen the gold. Police said Susheela used to visit Chandra under the guise of helping her with routine works and came to know about the gold ornaments kept inside the bureau. She then conspired with her husband and took 10 sovereigns of gold jewellery from the bureau about eight months back. She took another 12 sovereigns last month. Manikandan then pledged the ornaments and used the money as they wanted it. Police have recovered 14 sovereigns of gold jewellery from the couple.

The Chennai Mahila Court, inside High Court campus, sentenced a man for life and for murdering his aunt for robbing her gold jewellery over two years ago. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 7,000 on him.

According to the prosecution, the accused, P Rajendran (31), who worked as driver of a school van, demanded jewellery from his aunt Hemavathy (52) as he had debts to clear. When Hemavathy, who was living with her second son Karthik at Girija Nagar in Kolathur, refused to part with her jewels, Rajendran picked up a machete from the house and hacked her to death. He then took away the seven-sovereign gold jewellery she was wearing. The incident took place on November 11, 2014. Hemavathy’s son Karthik found his mother murdered inside the house and subsequently lodged a complaint with the Kolathur police station. Following inquiries, the police officials arrested Rajendran.