In a high-stakes operation, Chennai police have arrested four individuals for allegedly stealing diamonds worth Rs20 crore after assaulting a diamond merchant at a city hotel. The accused — John Lloyd, Vijay, Ratheesh, and Arun Pandiarajan, all residents of Chennai and aged between 24 and 34 — were apprehended after a dramatic chase that ended in Thoothukudi district.
The incident occurred when the suspects lured merchant S Chandrasekar to a hotel under the pretense of finalizing a diamond deal. Once inside the hotel room, they assaulted and tied him up, fleeing with the diamonds. The merchant was rescued by hotel staff after raising an alarm.
Police quickly sprang into action, forming four special teams and tracking the gang using CCTV footage. Within 12 hours, the suspects were traced and intercepted with help from Thoothukudi police at a checkpoint in Pudur Pandiyapuram. The stolen diamonds were recovered from their jeep.
All four suspects will be brought back to Chennai for further legal proceedings.
