Police arrested a social media influencer named Meenakshi and Suresh, the father of prime suspect Nishanth, in connection with the massive gold heist at a Tanishq showroom in Madurai, Manorama News reported.
The theft occurred during the early hours of November 13 at the showroom located on the Palanganatham Bypass Road, where display items were targeted. Authorities have recovered five kilograms of gold so far while search efforts continue.
Police Link Meenakshi to Case Through Chats and Records
Investigators linked Meenakshi to the case after uncovering social media chats and phone records shared between her and Nishanth, Manorama Online reported. Police also detained Suresh after a local witness reported seeing two men burning clothes worn during the break-in, leading to the identification of the prime suspect through photographs.
Police established that Nishanth had visited the outlet three times prior to the break-in disguised as a customer. Investigators noted he wore different shirts during each visit while keeping the same cap, raising suspicions that the visits served as trial runs before the heist.
The Heist Details
The newly opened showroom, which launched about two weeks prior to the incident, still had ongoing construction work around parts of the building including wiring and scaffolding near the rear, Reporter Tv reported. Employees discovered the missing items on Thursday morning when they arrived for work.
While display sections lost a substantial amount of jewelry, the store’s inner lockers remained secure.
Ongoing Manhunt
Police have formed nine special teams to track down Nishanth, who family members stated fled to Chennai following the incident. Authorities are continuing searches across Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and various locations throughout Tamil Nadu.
