Man in cop guise steals gold chain from cadaver

The police said Guna Bhai (80), wife of the late Sreeramalu, a policeman, died at the hospital around 10 days ago.

Guna Bhai was admitted to the hospital by her daughter Latha Rugmani. The latter had been taking care of her mother and her mentally challenged sibling, sources said.

When the hospital authorities announced Guna Bhai’s death, Latha was going around making arrangements to take the body to their house at Chozan Nagar at Arumbakkam.

As she booked an ambulance, a man, who claimed to be a policeman, offered help. Rajesh, as he identified himself, helped Latha with the formalities and even accompanied the body on the ambulance.

At the residence, he helped the bereaved family shift the body from the vehicle and place it inside. He ‘instructed’ Latha on the ‘procedures’ to be followed in handling the body. He asked her to remove the ear studs and necklace on the body and place it in a glass of milk. He then asked her to bring garlands and flowers to be placed on the body.

When Latha returned with flowers and garland, she noticed that the ‘policeman’ had vanished with the gold. Some of her neighbours were present at the house then.

Latha lodged a complaint with the Arumbakkam police. The police were sifting through CCTV footage to identify the culprit. Sources said an investigation was on and the impersonator would be caught soon.