Gang ties up Chennai businessman, family; loots ₹25 lakh cash, 15 sovereigns of gold

A six-member gang of unidentified men tied up a businessman and his family and looted ₹25 lakh in cash and 15 sovereigns of gold jewellery from their house. Police have launched a manhunt for the gang.

The victim, Vijayakumar, who runs a textile business and lives with his wife Vasantha, their two daughters, and his mother, lives in the Mahaveer Garden area of Puzhal.

Police sources said, in the early hours of Friday, when Vasantha attempted to open the front door of the house, the gang of men, who reportedly masked their faces, threatened her with a knife and forced their way inside the house. The gang had been waiting near the house, anticipating someone to open the front door.

The gang tied the hands and legs of Vasantha, Vijayakumar, his mother, and their two daughters, and gagged them. They then looted ₹25 lakh in cash and 15 sovereigns of gold jewellery kept in a steel bureau and fled the scene, the complainant alleged.

In the morning, when employees arrived at the house as usual, they found there was no response from the front door. They entered the house through the rear entrance, and were shocked to find the family members tied up. They immediately freed them and informed the police. Puzhal police rushed to the spot and began an investigation. Police are intensively working to identify the culprits by examining footage from the CCTV camera installed in the area, and also with the help of sniffer dogs. Five special teams have been formed to trace the suspects.