The Tiruchi Rural Police has cracked the case of burglary at the Punjab National Bank’s Bikshandarkoil branch, on the city’s outskirts, early this year.
The break-in was committed in January by a four-member gang led by Murugan, also the alleged mastermind in the Lalithaa Jewellery heist, Superintendent of Police Ziaul Haque said.
The police arrested an accused involved in the bank burglary on Monday. Radhakrishnan, 28, a gas cutter, was apprehended in Dindigul by special teams, which had been pursuing the case for the past eight months after the culprits made away with 470 sovereigns of gold jewellery and ₹19 lakh in cash after drilling a hole at the rear of the building housing the bank.
During interrogation, Radhakrishnan revealed that Murugan, his relative Suresh and Ganesan were also involved in the burglary, Mr. Haque told reporters.
Suresh and Ganesan are also allegedly involved in the Lalithaa Jewellery heist. The same gang was also allegedly involved in attempted burglaries at the Indian Overseas Bank branch at Uppilliyapuram and a couple of cooperative banks at Samayapuram and Manachanallur in Tiruchi district.
Explaining how the case was cracked, Mr. Haque said since a gas cutter was used to break into the lockers, the special teams compiled a list of over 300 people involved in gas cutting and welding works.
