Three held with revolver at Koyambedu

Highly placed sources in OCIU told DT Next that CD Mani, who had been languishing in Puzhal prison has been released on Sunday and the presence of Murugan with an armed gang raised suspicion. OCIU has handed the accused, weapon and ammunition to the Koyambedu police. 

The OCIU received an intelligence input that an associate of CD Mani is meeting with three persons from Cuddalore and Nagapattinam to purchase the gun. Following this a special OCIU team rushed to the spot and arrested Mohanraj (24), Rajesh (23) and Sabari (35) and recovered the revolver and live cartridges. 

Police sources said the revolver was of a better quality than the regular country guns used by the local gangs in Chennai. On further interrogation, the gang members told the police that they had purchased the gun from one Harris from Nagapattinam and wanted to sell it at a higher price in Chennai. CD Mani’s associate, Murugan seemed to have been interested in purchasing the weapon, police said. 

“Murugan escaped from the scene before we could get him. We think that there is a direct link between Murugan’s attempt to purchase the weapon and CD Mani’s release from prison,” the official added. 

CD Mani’s associates were arrested recently after they tried to eliminate a rival gang leader Jaganathan at Saidapet. Mani’s henchmen had shot Jaganathan but he survived the attack. It was the third attempt on his life by Mani’s gang, police said.