TNLA member held in heist case at Panruti

Chennai, Aug 17: Police have arrested a member of the banned Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA) at Panruti in Cuddalore district on Saturday, Aug 16.

Police sources said the TNLA member Lenin alias Govindarajan was being questioned about his possible role in the Rs 3.75 crore heist that had occurred a week back.

A five-member gang, posing as police patrol had waylaid a locker van of a jewellery store on the Tiruchi-Chennai highway and decamped with Rs 3.75 crore in cash.

Lenin was arrested from his hideout at Kokilaankuppam near Panruti. Rs 1.80 lakh, part of the Rs three lakh, which was given to him by his aides Kennedy and Gurumurthy, was seized from him.

The amount was concealed at Veerattipuram forest areas in the district.

Though Lenin stoutly denied his involvement in the heist stating that he had been in Goa when the incident took place, police suspect his hand in it as he was involved in several crimes and was an accused in the case relating to the blasting of railway track at Thirupaathripuliyur a few years ago. He was also involved in a robbery case at Swamimalai near Kumbakonam.

During interrogation, Lenin said he was approached by Kennedy and Gurumurthy, who gave him Rs three lakh as advance, as part of conspiracy for a major heist they had planned after Independence day.

Special teams, formed to nab the culprits involved in the heist, were on the look out for the duo, who were absconding, police added.

UNI