In a major breakthrough, the Podanur police on Wednesday night arrested the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of two youths in Coimbatore. The suspect, identified as G Karuppusamy, 24, from Dharapuram Road in Tirupur, sustained a leg fracture while attempting to flee during the arrest. He was subsequently admitted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Background of the Accused
Karuppusamy has a lengthy criminal record, with eight cases registered against him at various police stations, including Nallur, Avinashipalayam, and Kamanaickenpalayam in Tirupur district, K Paramathi in Karur district, and Thammampatti in Salem district. He is a known history sheeter.
The Kidnapping Incident
According to police, Karuppusamy, along with J Kaalidas, 31, J Ramkumar, 31, and four others, planned the abduction of M Navin, 29, and P Nirmal Kumar, 29, who were involved in selling online lottery tickets. The victims were kidnapped on Monday, and the gang demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh from their families.
Police Operation and Arrests
After Navin’s sisters filed a complaint, the police set a trap. They instructed the family to indicate they were ready to pay the ransom to secure the victims' release. When family members went to Veerapandi in Tirupur to hand over the money, two policemen from Nallur police station—identified as P Mohan, 37, and V Anand, 38—were present to collect the cash. Both were arrested on the spot.
During interrogation, the arrested policemen revealed that Kaalidas, a relative of Anand, had asked them to pick up the money. They claimed they were unaware of the kidnapping. Based on their statements, police apprehended Kaalidas and Ramkumar.
Ongoing Investigation
Further investigation is underway, and police are actively searching for the remaining suspects. The authorities have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests in the coming days.
