Saidapet shootout hatched in Puzhal jail

Chennai: Last August, when gangster ‘CD’ Mani was arrested at gunpoint in his hideout, police thought they had put a full stop to his illegal activities. But Mani alias P. Manikandan, 29, turned out to be smarter than the sleuths.

Cooling his heels in Puzhal jail, he was allegedly busy planning a daytime strike to eliminate a DMK functionary  ‘Gate’ Jaga alias Jagannathan in West Saidapet on January 11.

“His plan was executed. The target was hit. But Jaga survived two bullets and attack by sickles, because he was wearing a helmet.  Though Mani was in jail when the incident happened, we came to know that he had planned the hit to help a real estate dealer named Padmanabhan in Velachery, who is believed to be a rival of Jaga’s boss, another real estate businessman. He had also been cited as one of the main accused,” a police officer said.

Police arrested Padmanabhan on Tuesday and are on the lookout for three others, including a lawyer.

It was the second attempt by Mani’s gang on Jaga in the last seven months. Earlier, Mani, who has now been detained under the Goondas Act, along with his associates had hurled a country made bomb at him. Jaga had survived two times.

Mani’s handler, Padamanabhan, had a long rivalry with Jaga’s boss, another DMK functionary. Padmanabhan thought that  once Jaga is killed, then his rival’s supremacy would collapse.

Mani’s associate, Vinod Kumar, who got released from jail a couple of weeks ago, had come out with a clear agenda. Mani had told him to bump off Jaga as soon as possible. Mani also feared that Jaga would retaliate once he is out of jail.

“Mani was also in touch with his team members to make sure that Jaga is killed.

Padmanabhan believed that Jaga is causing damage for him on the business side,” police said. Padmanabhan and his lawyer had met Mani several times in jail before finalising the attack on Jaga.

Who is ‘CD’ Mani ?

‘CD’ Mani is Manikandan,  son of Parthasarathy, Dr Thomas Road, T Nagar. He studied up to class 12. Initially, he sold pirated CDs on Thomas Road and thus became ‘CD’ Mani.

He also worked as a driver for some time. He along with Vellai Kumar of Teynampet were briefly involved in cable TV business. The duo used to threaten all other small operators and forced them to sell their connections to them.

By this way, he controlled nearly 3000 connections in various names. In the past, he developed friendship with one Kattai Raja, Ceylon Mohan and Vellai Kumar and murdered Vaazhai Thoppu Sathish.

In 2012, he and his associates murdered his rival  group leader Karthik.
He was involved in at least eight  murder cases and helped several real estate businessmen like Padmanabhan to settle deals.

He avoids carrying a mobile phone fearing he may be tracked easily. He also changes cars frequently.