Thambi Raja alias Raja Prince (42) of Tuticorin, allegedly involved in about 21 grave crimes, including a couple of kidnap and murder cases, was arrested here on Thursday night.
According to police sources, the accused along with his friend Daniel Satish (30) of Tuticorin was nabbed based on a tip-off given by the Organised Crime Intelligence Unit (OCIU) of the State police.
A sophisticated but unused pistol procured in Bihar was seized from him.
“Preliminary enquiries revealed that Raja was an active member of a gang that was operating in the southern districts, mainly Madurai, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin.
He was involved in kidnap and murder cases in Coimbatore and Tuticorin districts. He was also a contract killer,” a senior police official said.
Raja was frequenting Nepal via Bihar for “business purposes.” Rajesh Jacob who provided suspects accommodation in Velachery was also arrested.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Adyar) M.C. Sarangan said Raja had told investigators that he had purchased the weapon for self-defence.
“We found no ammunition in the pistol. The accused persons were planning to leave for Madurai when police nabbed them,” he said.
