Gangster ‘Kakkathoppu’ Balaji, two aides nabbed

R Balaji (39) alias ‘Kakkathoppu’ Balaji of Broadway reportedly has more than 70 cases pending against him, including murder, attempt to murder, kidnap and extortion, at several police stations in North Chennai. At Muthialpet station alone, he has about 22 cases, said the police.

‘Kakkathoppu’ Balaji, who was arrested by the Muthialpet police in August last year, in connection with an extortion case, came out on conditional bail a few days later and went into hiding since then. The police launched a hunt for him, but in vain.

Meanwhile, OCIU sleuths received a tip-off that the gangster was seen roaming in a car in Royapettah. They secured him along two others on Thursday and seized the car from him. As much as 19 sovereigns of jewels and Rs 35,000 in cash were also seized from the trio. Preliminary inquiry revealed that he visited the city to help his friend get a bank loan sanctioned. All three men were handed to the MKB Nagar police. When contacted, the police said that he would be remanded in judicial custody on Friday.