Investigations into a string of mobile phone thefts during the Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL match at Chepauk Stadium on March 28 have led to the arrest of three more suspects: Rahul Kumar (24), Jither Sani (30), and Praveen Kumar Matto (21). The arrests took place at a private lodge in Vellore, where 31 stolen phones were recovered.
Earlier, on April 2, police had apprehended eight individuals, including four minors, who were also found at the same lodge. These arrests resulted in the recovery of 74 stolen phones to date.
The Triplicane police revealed that the suspects are allegedly part of an interstate theft ring originating from Tin Pahar village in Jharkhand. The gang is accused of recruiting young people, offering them daily wages of Rs 1,000, and training them in distraction thefts and pickpocketing. These recruits were then deployed in crowded public spaces such as stadiums, markets, beaches, and bus terminals across India.
So far, the gang’s activities have been reported in areas such as Koyambedu, Vadapalani, Avadi, Purasawalkam in Chennai, as well as Bengaluru and Tirupati. Police disclosed that many of the gang members’ recruits are minors or family members.
After the thefts, the stolen mobile phones were allegedly smuggled back to Jharkhand, where they were sold in Maoist-dominated regions and along the West Bengal-Bangladesh border.
The investigation into the theft ring began after 20 complaints were submitted via the Chennai Singam IPL app following the match. Using AI-based surveillance analysis and tips from spectators, police were able to trace the suspects’ movements and make the arrests.
