A gang robbed Rs. 5 lakh from a gold merchant from Coimbatore after pushing his friend out of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) near Tirumangalam in the early hours of Wednesday.
Police said R. Mohan (53) of Kuniamuthur in Coimbatore had been promised by brokers in Madurai that he could buy jewellery auctioned by banks at a cheap rate. Mohan and his friend Satish Rajan had come to the Palladam bus stand from where they were picked up in the SUV by four persons — Saleem, Muthu, Guberan and Palani, the driver.
The vehicle had stopped at a tea shop on the Madurai-Tenkasi Road in the early hours of Wednesday.
Suddenly, the vehicle left the spot leaving behind Mohan. After travelling some distance, the four persons had beaten up Satish Rajan and pushed him down near Alampatti. By then, the gang had taken possession of the Rs. 5 lakh and sped away.
Mohan and Satish Rajan lodged a complaint with the Tirumangalam Town police. The police are on the lookout for the gang.
