Koyambedu police nab Tirupattur panchayat chief for stealing gold chain

CHENNAI: The Koyambedu police on Saturday arrested a village panchayat president from Tirupattur district for allegedly stealing a five sovereign gold chain from a city resident travelling in a government bus. Police said that the incident happened in July, and the accused woman, a DMK functionary, was zeroed in after sustained investigations.

The complainant, L Varalakshmi (50) of Nerkundram Reddy Street in Chennai, was returning from Kancheepuram in a TNSTC (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) bus on July 14 when the incident occurred.

After alighting at Koyambedu, Varalakshmi checked her bag, realised the five sovereign gold chain she had was missing, and she filed a police complaint.

Police examined CCTV footage and found the woman stealing jewellery from Varalakshmi's bag. She was later identified as Bharathi (56), the President of Nariyambattu Panchayat in Tirupattur district and a DMK functionary.

Police traced Bharathi to Tirupattur, arrested her, and brought her to Chennai for questioning. Investigations revealed that she had multiple pending cases in Tirupattur, Vellore, and Ambur.

She was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. The arrest of the DMK functionary in a theft case triggered political reactions, with Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswamy and former BJP President K Annamalai condemning the DMK for harbouring criminal elements in the party.