Prime accused in Velankanni financier murder case arrested after three years

The police have arrested the prime accused in the 2022 murder of a financier from Poigainallur South in Velankanni. The accused, identified as Greaton alias Rosary Greaton of Ariyanattu Street, Velankanni, had since been reported absconding.

The murder of financier Manohar, which came to light through CCTV footage, had led to the arrest of 16 persons. However, Greaton, identified as the main accused in the case, managed to evade arrest and had been on the run since 2023.

The police said that Greaton allegedly continued criminal activities by coordinating with his associates in Velankanni through the Clubhouse mobile application. Complaints were received alleging that he had been threatening lodge owners and shopkeepers. Two cases in this regard were registered against him.

Meanwhile, Nagapattinam Superintendent of Police K.S. Balla Krisshnan received specific intelligence that Greaton was planning to expand ganja distribution in and around Velankanni by using college students as couriers. Following this, a special police team was formed under the supervision of the Velankanni Deputy Superintendent of Police to track him down.

Based on intelligence inputs, the police intercepted Greaton while he was allegedly transporting ganja from Chennai to Thanjavur. He was apprehended on Karuvelankadai Main Road.

Investigations revealed that the accused had been disguising himself as a holy man by growing a beard to avoid detection while continuing illegal activities such as ganja trafficking and extortion.

He was later produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

Meanwhile, another accused, Tyson, who managed to flee during the police operation, sustained fractures in his legs after falling from a two-wheeler. He is undergoing treatment under judicial custody at the Orathur Government Medical College Hospital, the police said.