CHENNAI: IN a daring daylight robbery, a three-member gang robbed around 50 sovereigns of gold jewellery and `6 lakh after gagging and holding a businessman’s wife under knife-point at her residence in Choolai on Tuesday.
When the robbers entered the house at around 2 pm, R Madhu (42) and her mother Ankur, a bed ridden 90-year-old, were at home, according to relatives. Madhu’s husband Rajesh Kumar is a luggage merchant and runs a showroom in Parry’s corner,” Vinod, Madhu’s nephew told Express.
Three young men, claiming to be friends of Amit, Madhu’s son had arrived at the family’s first floor residence. “Madhu usually doesn’t let strangers in and the trio had mentioned the name of Amit and Rajesh Kumar after which they were allowed in. They had even offered sweets to the woman,” Vinod said.
After enquiring about Amit, the trio left the house only to arrive a few minutes later to execute their plan. “One of them had asked for water,” Vinod quoted Madhu as saying. When she ventured into the kitchen to fetch water, the three of them locked up the door from inside and brandished the knives they were carrying all along.
Before the woman could raise an alarm, she was gagged and tied under knife point. The gang, then ransacked the cupboards and drawers where cash was stashed. Relatives claimed that the gang had made away with about 50 sovereigns of jewellery, `6 lakh cash and three kilograms of silver articles.
After an hour’s ordeal, Madhu managed to relieve herself and raised an alarm after which neighbours rescued her. Family members rushed on information and informed the Vepery Police who conducted preliminary enquiries. The woman, luckily did not suffer any injuries, relatives said, but is still in a state of shock. “The trio appeared to be in their early 20’s,” Vinod said which was corroborated by police. Vepery Police have registered a case and have launched a hunt for the three.