A businessman dealing in computer hardware was arrested along with his driver on Tuesday for robbing a Madipakkam jewellery shop and killing a 17-year-old employee of the shop last Thursday.
The arrested were identified as Khader Ali (29), a native of Cuddalore residing at Kuberna Nagar and his driver Dinesh (23).
Sources said that Ali, who also ran an internet café at Madipakkam, and his driver had killed Madan Singh (17), employee at the Balaji pawn shop owned by one Mohan Lal on Thursday evening and escaped on a bike with 2.89 kg gold, silver articles and Rs 1 lakh cash.
“We got vital clues from the public. It helped us to solve the crime. It shows the importance of police – public interaction,” noted Mr S. George, City Police Commissioner.
Ali, who is into construction business too, was neck deep in debt and used to pledge his wife’s jewellery at the particular shop.
It seems that his wife, Ms Vijayalakshmi, who had given birth to their second child recently, had been quarrelling with him for pledging her ornaments.
Sources said that Ali and Dinesh, both addicted to narcotics and alcohol, decided to rob the pawnshop after murdering the employee.
The police has recovered the stolen gold and cash from the houses of the two accused. “The hard disc of the surveillance camera, which was taken by the two, was also recovered,” the police added.
The police noted that Ali had pledged ornaments at least 60 times with the particular shop in the past.
“We are verifying if he was involved in any other crimes. According to our records Mohan Lal has anhistory of receiving stolen ornaments,” the police added.