Police head to AP to nab Kovai jewel heist kingpin

A few days ago, the robbery gang waylaid two staff of Kalyan Jewellers who were proceeding to Coimbatore from Thrissur in a SUV and looted 350 sovereigns and 250 grams of silver ornaments worth about Rs 98.05 lakh, by threatening them. The gang members, who came in two cars, had also driven away the company’s SUV leaving the staff stranded at KG Chavady area. 

Two members of the gang, Tamil Selvan and Jayaprakash surrendered before a court in Chennai and were lodged in Puzhal prison. They will be produced in a court in Coimbatore on 18 January. Police have moved a petition in the court to take the duo under custody for five days to inquire them in connection with the robbery. 

Meanwhile, the police secured nine members of the gang and they are being grilled in an undisclosed location. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the gang was headed by Feroz from Sri Perumbudur and they used to target mostly ‘hawala’ money carriers. A cop privy to the investigation revealed that the kingpin of the gang had escaped to Andhra Pradesh. “We have sought the help of police in Andhra Pradesh to nab the culprit. No arrests have been made so far in connection with the heist and stolen jewels were not seized yet,” police added.