3 fake cops held in Erode for Rs 3 cr heist in April

Following their arrest, the police recovered cash to the tune of Rs 31 lakh, three cars and a two-wheeler from them.

According to the police, Anwar, who runs a chain of jewellery stores in Chennai, Coimbatore and Kerala, entrusted three crore rupees with three of his employees to hand it over to a shop in Kerala.

The trio had then left with the cash to Kerala from Chennai on April 3. Next day, as they arrived at the Vijayamangalam toll gate near Perundurai in Erode district, they were intercepted by a group of men, who arrived in two cars.

As some in the group were reportedly donning the police uniform, the jewellery shop employees believed them to be cops carrying out a vehicle check in view of the model code of conduct ahead of the Lok Sabha poll.

However, the gang in police uniform unexpectedly kidnapped them and dropped each of the three men in different spots. They then drove away the car with cash.

On receiving information, the Perundurai police registered a case and a special team was formed to nab the accused. The special team of police, who were involved in a vehicle check near Vijayamangalam toll gate, intercepted a car with three men upon suspicion.

After inquiries, the trio identified as Jothi Thomas (39), Muralidharan (35) and Aliyar (48)-all hailing from Kerala-confessed to having been involved in the robbery. The three, along with eight others, had committed the crime, sources said.

The members of the gang had then divided the stolen money among themselves. The police then seized cash to the tune of Rs 31 lakh, three luxury cars and a two-wheeler from the arrested men. A search is on to nab the absconding members of the gang.