Losing money to online gambling, engineer attempts chain snatching

CHENNAI: A Civil engineer who allegedly lost money in online gambling and became a debtor took to chain snatching to settle his debts. However, he got caught in his very first attempt and was treated to mob justice before he was handed over to the police.

The arrested person has been identified as Saravanan (27) of Chennimalai town in Erode district. Saravanan has been working with a construction firm in Nungambakkam for the past three years, police sources said.

On August 5 (Monday), a 50-year-old woman, Tamilselvi, a resident of Vinobhaji Nagar, Hasthinapuram had gone to West Mambalam to attend a wedding when Saravanan had attempted to snatch her gold chain.

Police said that Tamilselvi was walking along Giri road after attending the wedding reception when Saravanan, who was trailing her on a bike, snatched her chain.

The woman raised alarms and immediately, public rushed to her rescue. Before the motorist could escape, he was intercepted to mob justice. Personnel from Ashok Nagar police station rushed to the scene on information and secured the accused.

Investigations revealed that Saravanan lost more than Rs 10 lakh to online gambling. With the help of family and friends, he had managed to arrange around Rs 3 lakh, but he was desperate to secure the remaining money to settle his debts, police sources said.

He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.