One of the most wanted criminals in the city, CD Mani, and six members of his gang were rounded up by a special team of Chennai Police near Mamallapuram on Saturday night.
With 28 cases against him, Mani was on the run. On Saturday, he threatened a businessman at gun-point in Mambalam. Based on a tip-off that Mani and his gang members were roaming the city and its outskirts in an SUV, a special team was formed by Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan to nab them.
Opens fire
Following information that the gangster was holed up in a house near Muttukadu, the police surrounded the place.
When confronted, the gang opened fire at the police and tried to escape. However, the armed police team surrounded the gang and nabbed them.
The arrested persons are CD Mani, Vinod, Sivakumar, Sori Suresh, Uri, Ilango and Madhavan.
A gun, knives, a car and a two-wheeler were seized from them.
A case has been registered at the Kanathur police station and investigation is on.
Police said that there are 28 cases against Mani, including eight murder cases, five of which were pending trial. He was acquitted in two cases. Mani was booked under Goondas Act four times — in 2001, 2009, 2002 and 2015.
Pirated DVD seller
Mani’s name first surfaced on the city’s crime scene in 2006. Manikandan became ‘CD’ Mani, as he initially sold pirated DVDs in Teynampet. He was a resident of Thomas Road in T. Nagar and his wife lives in Tindivanam, the police said. Mani had worked as a driver and was in the cable television business for sometime.
“He has been a henchman for many in the real estate realm. He is well-known for travelling across the city in high-end cars and was evading arrest,” a senior police officer said.
The police said Mani never carried a cellphone as he feared that he might be tracked easily. “He speaks through his aides,” the officer added.
