Gangster Binu Pappachan, who recently cut his birthday cake in the presence of 100 other criminals, surrendered before the police on Tuesday and tried to downplay his notoriety. In a video that went viral on WhatsApp, Binu is heard pleading, “I’m not that big a rowdy.”
A visibly shaken Binu walked into the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ambattur, and turned himself in.
Though the police had placed him in the A+ category, denoting a gangster with five murders to his account and with more than five rowdies as associates, Binu, 50, came in the public eye only last Tuesday. The police swooped down on more than 100 rowdies celebrating Binu’s birthday near Malayambakkam, managing to secure 75 of them. Special teams led by Deputy Commissioner, Ambattur, S. Sarveshraj executed the operation within hours of getting intelligence about the party.
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However, Binu and his associates gave police the slip. The police said Binu escaped on a bike. Later, he used a car to cruise around the city and border districts, not staying at one spot for too long.
The police fanned out to several places and intensified their efforts to corner the rowdies across the city.
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“We formed seven teams to interrogate several persons, including his relatives, friends and adversaries, since they have been keeping tabs on his movement. We got some clues after analysing the call records of mobile phones seized from the spot. We ensured all his support dried out. He had no option but to surrender,” Mr. Sarveshraj told The Hindu.
At 10.15 a.m, sporting a white shirt and denim pants, Binu walked in to the building of the Deputy Commissioner’s office near the busy Avadi market. He knelt before the Deputy Commissioner and wept profusely. He said, “Don’t shoot me, Sir. I am surrendering and will answer your questions.”
Probe held
Binu was taken to the Muthapudupet police station for inquiry and was produced before journalists who had gathered there.
Later, he was taken to the Mangadu police station where he faces criminal cases, including an attempt on the life of a Revenue Inspector and the recent unlawful assembly.
At the end of the day, he was produced before a judicial magistrate court in Poonamallee and was lodged in the Central Prison, Puzhal.
Mr. Sarveshraj said, “We have preliminary information from him about his associates. Very soon, other accomplices will be nabbed.”
Just before surrendering, video footage of Binu explaining his position was sent to media houses. Speaking in Tamil, he said he was diabetic and aged 50. He had indulged in rowdyism early in his life because he fell in the wrong company.
“After coming out from prison the last time, I ran away with intention of leading a reformed life. During this period, I was in Karur. Only my brother knew where I was. He threw me a surprise birthday party when I turned 50, and brought together all my old associates. He gave me the machete and asked me to cut the cake. I just did what he asked me to do. Immediately after, the police raided the place, and I escaped from there. However, wherever I ran, the police was behind me. That is why I decided to surrender. Please pardon me. I am not as big a rowdy as you think.”