The police are on the hunt for a man, suspected to be a Spainish national, who is alleged to be an aide of Jose Osorio, a Colombian, who was arrested on Sunday following a bid to steal expensive diamond jewels from an exhibition here.
According to sources with the investigating team, 36-year-old Osorio, holding a Colombian passport, was nabbed at the hotel when he along with his aide whom he identifies as Jimmy, tried to steal bags containing diamond jewellery worth over Rs. 80 lakh. The diamonds were on display at a three-day exhibition that began on Friday and the theft attempt took place on Sunday evening after the show concluded.
“Jose could only converse in Spanish and hardly knew any English. He claims he met Jimmy during his stay in Nepal and had entered India and reached Delhi with him in May and they later travelled by train from Hyderabad to Chennai few days ago. He said he doesn’t know more about him apart from his name and his nationality which could be false,” said an investigating officer.
The Colombian also informed police that Jimmy was the mastermind behind the theft attempt which failed and he managed to slip away. He was in possession of his passport, some clothes and a sum of Rs. 2,500.
The police have launched a hunt for the Spanish national with skeletal details given by Osorio. The Chennai airport authorities have been alerted and investigators are keeping vigil at railway stations and bus termini in the city to track down the suspect.
Meanwhile, Jose Osorio has been lodged in Puzhal prison and will be taken into police custody soon for further investigation, the sources added.
