Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu), May 5 (UNI) The Thoothukudi police on Monday arrested four persons involved in robbing a diamond worth Rs 20 crore from a diamond merchant after assaulting him at Chennai.

Police sources said the four-member-gang, identified as L John Loyd (34), S Vijay (24), R Rathish (28) and G Arun Pandiyarajan alias ‘London’ Rajan under the guise of purchasing the diamond from the diamond merchant V Chandrasekar (69) asked him to come to a hotel at Vadapalani in Chennai on Sunday.

When Chandrasekar went to the room where they were staying in the hotel, the gang allegedly robbed the diamond after assaulting him. They also tied the hands and legs of the merchant before fleeing the room.

Chandrasekar was rescued by the hotel employees after his daughter, who accompanied his father and waiting at the reception, grew suspicious as he did not come out even after a long time and alerted them.

The Vadapalani police had registered a case and formed four special teams to arrest the culprits.

Meanwhile, the Thoothukudi police while on a patrol near the Pudur Pandiyapuram toll plaza, intercepted a car on suspicion and interrogated the four occupants.

As they gave a contrary confession, the police interrogated them and detected their involvement in the diamond heist.

The diamond was recovered from them.

A special police team from Vadapalani rushed to Thoothukudi and took custody of the four accused and took them to Chennai for further investigation.

UNI GSM SS