Lawyer hired thief to steal from cousin: police

The East Division police have arrested a High Court advocate who had allegedly hired a “notorious burglar” to loot her cousin's house in Hanumanthanagar.

The police also arrested Manja alias Duck Manja of Chikkabanavara, an accused in 37 criminal cases, and his two accomplices who stole valuables worth lakhs from the house on the instructions of Varunashree, who now practises at the Madras High Court.

The police have recovered gold and silver ornaments and a multi-utility vehicle, together worth Rs. 57 lakh, the three had looted from the house of Tejaswi as well as from other homes in the city. While Varunashree was directly involved in the Hanumanthanagar case, she was a receiver of stolen goods in some other burglaries, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) T.G. Krishna Bhat told

The Hindu on Saturday.

After completing her law degree, Varunashree worked as a junior with a leading criminal lawyer in Bangalore. During that period, she had helped Manja get bail on a few occasions. A few months ago, when her cousin Tejaswi went abroad, she summoned Manja to Chennai and instructed him to burgle his house, the police said.

In January, Manja, Ravi and Ramakrishnachari broke into Mr. Tejaswi's house and handed over the valuables to Varunashree.

Another break-in

Thieves broke into the house of Chandrappa, businessman, at Aiyappanagar when the residents were away for three days and looted gold and silver ornaments worth Rs. 13 lakh and Rs. 2.80 lakh in cash, the police said. The theft came to light on Friday.