Tanishq heist case

Jewel thief surrenders

• Approaches a TV channel which informs cops
• Police recover most of booty from him
• His accomplice Anand is at large
• Both are masons, and hail from Guntur district

I don't see any difference between me and them (politicians). We both are the same. I robbed one night, but they do it everyday- Kiran Kumar

Hyderabad: The sensational gold heist of Rs 5.97 crore at Tanishq gold jewellery shop in Punjagutta two days ago finally ended with an uncanny twist. Police produced a man who surrendered to them late on Sunday night. They said he had confessed to have committed the theft.

The accused, Kiran Kumar, 23, a native of Epuru in Guntur district, walked into a TV news channel office and stated that he had masterminded the theft. Speaking to the news channel, Kiran revealed that the robbery was only to point out the corruption of political leaders. "When I lived in my native place, I wanted to contest for the post of president for my village to do some social service. I had even planned to improve my constituency. However, my relatives laughed at me while the society around me didn't give me a chance to realise my dream. Distraught, I had decided to end my life. I attempted suicide twice. However, I stepped back, thinking I didn't deserve it," he said, adding that he carried out the crime to get attention.

He wanted a change in the society, public and politics. In his sensational revelation, he said that robbers steal only one night while politicians rob for years. "I don't see any difference between me and them. With one sign, they loot crores in one night. And one night, I looted crores. We both are the same. I robbed one night, but they do it everyday," he asserted. The channel immediately contacted DCP (W) V Satyanarayana and handed Kiran over to him. Police recovered the booty that included 528 bangles, 40 bracelets, 33 necklaces, 89 pendants, 58 ear studs, 98 finger rings and a cash of Rs 8,460 from Kiran’s room at Rasoolpura. Initially, Kiran claimed that he carried out the entire loot alone, but CCTV footage showed a man moving through the store with a distinct limp as though afflicted by polio.

When the police confronted him with the video footage from the CCTV cameras, he confessed that his cousin Anand had actually entered the shop and later kept the booty in his room. The accused also claimed that the robbery was only carried out to expose the preparedness of the police machinery by creating a sensation and to highlight the loopholes in the administration. Both accused, hailing from Guntur district and settled in Hyderabad, are masons by profession and committed the crime for money. City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said that while Kiran Kumar wanted to be a pilot and required Rs 15 lakh for the fee, polio-afflicted Anand was in need of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for surgery.

He said the accused got worried after the police launched a hunt and there was media attention. “They were finding it difficult to dispose gold and hence decided to surrender. Kiran Kumar approached a local television channel,” he said. The accused drilled the hole in the rear wall of the shop and entered through it. They switched off the lights, broke open the locked table counters and looted the gold ornaments and stones.

Anand entered the shop, wearing a mask and hand gloves, and covered his legs with polythene bags. He also sprinkled chilli powder in the shop to prevent police dogs from catching any scent.

Both accused, hailing from Guntur district and settled in Hyderabad, are masons by profession and committed the crime for money. City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said that while Kiran Kumar wanted to be a pilot and required Rs 15 lakh for the fee, polio-afflicted Anand was in need of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for surgery. He said the accused got worried after the police launched a hunt and there was media attention. “They were finding it difficult to dispose gold and hence decided to surrender. Kiran Kumar approached a local television channel,” he said. The accused drilled the hole in the rear wall of the shop and entered through it. They switched off the lights, broke open the locked table counters and looted the gold ornaments and stones. Anand entered the shop, wearing a mask and hand gloves, and covered his legs with polythene bags. He also sprinkled chilli powder in the shop to prevent police dogs from catching any scent.

Police suspect this could be the tip of the iceberg and said the heist appeared to be the handiwork of professional criminals and Kiran appeared to be a small fish.

They said he had only been used to carry out the heist. Cops are questioning two security guards, one employee from the security agency, and another person belonging to the shop. They are also collecting information on former and current Tanishq employees.

Meanwhile, the mother of the accused told media persons that her son was forced to get involved in the crime.