Conman linked to jewellery theft finally nabbed

The arrested was identified as M Karthik of Mettur, Salem. He was arrested at Mettur and 25 sovereigns of gold was seized from him.

Police said that the victim Gopi Murugesan, a resident of Kabali Colony in Mylapore, worked at a pharmacy on Greams Road. His mother owned a flower shop near a temple in Mylapore. Murugesan often visited his mother to help her. On January 6, he be-friended Karthi, a visitor to the temple. Karthi claimed that he was a banker working abroad, who was on a two-month leave. He told Murugesan that he lived near the Boat Club in Kotturpuram.

On January 9, he made a visit to the temple and told Murugesan that he was planning for a one-month long annadhanam at the temple and asked the latter if he could take him on his two-wheeler to help him with the purchases for the annadhanam. The duo was on their way to T Nagar from Parry’s Corner, when Karthi asked if he could see Murugesan’s gold chain. Karthi wore the chain for a while.

Meanwhile, Karthi asked Murugesan to park the vehicle and meet him at the commercial complex nearby, in Panagal Park. However, Murugesan did not find Karthi there as the latter had escaped with the gold chain, the police said. Police suspected that the accused may have earlier, cheated many others in Semmencherry, Tambaram, Pallikaranai and Teynampet.