The Mambalam police on Monday arrested Bharathi (61), a former Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, for allegedly posing as a police officer and stealing gold jewellery from elderly residents in Chennai.
Police suspect Bharathi had been committing similar offences for nearly 15 years. His accomplice, Ravichandran (54), who allegedly melted and sold the stolen jewellery, was also arrested. Authorities recovered two gold ingots weighing eight grams, a magazine, and 10 live rounds during the operation.
Bharathi, a native of Thirupathiripuliyur in Cuddalore district, was dismissed from the CISF in 2011 due to internal issues. Since then, he allegedly told his family that he worked as a night-time security guard.
The incidents came to light following a complaint in December last year by Ramalingam (80) of CIT Nagar (East). On December 30, Bharathi, wearing khaki trousers and posing as a policeman, accused Ramalingam of involvement in ganja smuggling. Claiming senior officers were en route to arrest him, Bharathi diverted the elderly man’s attention and fled with a four-gram gold ring.
Based on CCTV footage, police traced Bharathi to Cuddalore and apprehended him along with Ravichandran. A probe revealed that Bharathi had been involved in at least six similar cases registered at police stations including Mambalam, Flower Bazaar, Abiramapuram, Thiruvanmiyur, and Chintadripet, as well as a 2011 case in Mayiladuthurai.
Both accused were produced before court on Monday and remanded in judicial custody.
