In a significant breakthrough, Coimbatore police have successfully apprehended the main accused, M Vijay (24), in connection with the 4.8kg jewellery heist at a Jos Alukkas showroom last month. The arrest occurred as Vijay was returning from Andhra Pradesh, where he allegedly traveled incognito as a Sabarimala pilgrim.
The arrest of Vijay follows the earlier apprehensions of his wife Narmadha (24) and her mother Yogarani, from whom the police recovered over 4 kg of the stolen jewellery. Narmadha, a Sri Lankan refugee, was arrested in Anaimalai, Coimbatore district, while Yogarani was apprehended from a refugee camp in Dharmapuri district.
Acting on a tip-off that Vijay was in Srikalahasti town in Andhra Pradesh disguised as a Sabarimala pilgrim, the police successfully arrested him in Chennai, seizing an additional 400g of jewellery.
The Jos Alukkas showroom on 100 Feet Road in Gandhipuram fell victim to the heist on November 28, where gold, platinum, and diamond jewellery were allegedly stolen by Vijay. Reports suggest that the accused gained access to the building through a trap door in the space between the main building and a side wall under construction.
Vijay, who faces robbery cases in both Kambainallur police station in Dharmapuri and RS Puram station in Coimbatore, has a history of criminal activities. Furthermore, his father Munirathinam reportedly died by suicide during the heist investigation.
Coimbatore Commissioner of Police V Balakrishnan revealed the formation of five special teams to investigate the case, marking a significant step towards solving the high-profile jewellery heist.
