Rs.21 lakh stolen from tobacco firm's van

Maduravoyal police are investigating a case of theft of Rs.21 lakh from a van belonging to a leading tobacco manufacturing company. According to police, the van was going from Korattur to the company head office in Karambakkam to deposit the daily collection. Apart from the van driver Mahesh Kumar, there were two other employees – Vignesh and Panneerselvam in the van. According to them, two men who came on a motorbike waylaid them and picked up a fight for knocking them off the two-wheeler.

Even as the occupants of the van were explaining their position, four more men in two motorcycles also arrived at the spot. One of them overpowered Mahesh Kumar and took possession of the van and Vignesh, Panneerselvam and Mahesh Kumar were taken hostage. When the van neared Porur toll gate, the three were beaten up and the six motorcyclists broke open the cash chest containing Rs.21 lakh and escaped with the money. As police suspect that the three men were also involved in the theft, they are being questioned, police sources said.