Chennai: Fake journo, goldsmith, 2 others held for robbery

CHENNAI: The Chennai police claimed to have solved a case of robbery at knife-point in which Rs 8 lakh and 20 sovereigns were lost at Zam Bazaar on New Year Day.

Preliminary investigation revealed the alleged role of Imran aka Abdul Aziz (26) of Kodungaiyur, who claimed to be a mediaperson, and Rajendran, (27), a goldsmith, of Triplicane. Imran who was also into chain snatchings had been a customer of Staar Computer Testing Centre.

The shop located on Devarajan Street, off Triplicane High Road, was offering services including quality testing and melting gold ornaments. Sources said Rajendran and Imran roped in three others and decided to rob the shop on learning the qu antity of gold which the shop had been handling.

Around 10 am, the quintet, all wearing ski-masks, arrived at the shop when   Akshay, a relative of the shop owners Sajan and Pradeep who jointly run the business, were cleaning the shop to open for the day.

The gang forced Akshay at knife-point to part with the jewels that had come for testing besides the cash in the shop. The gang ransacked the firm and fled in bikes parked in the vicinity.

Based on Akshay’s inputs, the role of Imran was suspected. Imran had submitted an ID card copy wherein his name read Abdul Aziz and described him as Chennai Chief Reporter.

Probe revealed that Imran’s mobile had been turned off since Christmas last. His address and the bike’s registration number, were found fictitious. With help of Rajendran, Imran was traced and was arrested last month.

During interrogation, Imran confessed to the crime, the sources said. Based on his confession and with his call logs, the cops detained Rajendran, and their aides Nazeer Basha, (27), of New Washermenpet and Geelani, (27), of Royapuram. Police recovered Rs 2 lakh and 15 sovereigns and a bike used by the gang.

CBI chargesheets bank union prez, two others
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against L. Balasubramanian, All Indian Overseas Bank Employees Union (AIOBEU) president,  and his family members in connection with a disproportionate asset case registered against them.

Balasubramanian, his wife, B. Vijaya, 50, and his sister, L. Meenakshi, 66, had   allegedly collected a huge sum from bank employees in the state in the pretext of undertaking padayatra to Palani temple and subsequently diverted the sum into their trust.

In the chargesheet, the anti-corruption branch, CBI,  said Balasubramanian, 62, in connivance with his wife and his sister and the trust committed the offence.

Balasubramanian, joined IOB as a godown keeper in 1972 and was promoted as special assistant. He was elected  president of AIOBEU in 1991.

Even after his retirement, he continued to hold the union post. Similarly, Vijaya, who joined as a clerk in Indian Bank in 1985, took voluntary retirement in 2000. Meenakshi, who was working as an assistant manager in IOB, also took VRS in 2001.

With the help of office-bearers in districts, Balasubramanian had been circulating pamplets in all branches and collected Rs 25,000 as advertisement charges for publishing details regarding padayatra to Palani hills.

After collecting the amount, he invested it in fixed deposit of the trust, in which they were members. Later, they purchased property and assets in various places, including Palani, Karaikudi and Tiruchy.

During investigation, CBI identified that the trio had raised over Rs 3.20 crore as against the total income of Rs 51 lakh and Rs 11 lakh towards expenditure, from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012.

It may be noted that in 2014 Balasubramanian was allegedly involved in a job racket in the bank. He allegedly engaged 950 sweepers and messengers in IOB in  Tamil Nadu using forged documents