CHENNAI: A call taxi driver, engaged by Uber, was arrested on the charge of trying to snatch a gold chain from a senior citizen near Baby Nagar in Velachery on Wednesday morning.
The driver, T Maheshwaran, of Thiruvottiyur, had parked his car in a narrow street in Baby Nagar and spotted Banumathi (66), a resident of Annai Indira Nagar on her routine walk.
“As soon as the woman passed his car, he got off and allegedly snatched her eight sovereign gold chain and tried to escape. Hearing her screams, passersby immediately nabbed the driver and handed him over to the police,” police said.
Initial investigations revealed that the driver had previously worked in a software company in Porur and often visited Velachery to drop IT professionals. “Since, he was familiar with the area, he decided to rob a woman from the same area making it easier for him to escape,” police added.
He had told the police that he had committed the offence to tide over financial constrains. As his previous car was damaged, he was unable to pay the dues for the vehicle. A case has been registered and he was remanded in judicial custody.