Missing gold coins solve 5 murder cases

Investigating into a theft complaint, the police here have stumbled upon a person who has since confessed to murdering five members of his gang between August 2006 and October 2007. The gang was involved in property crimes and the killings were to avoid splitting of the booty, said police.

Devaraj was under the police scanner following a complaint from a temple priest regarding theft of 57 sovereigns of gold from his house last month. Devaraj surrendered before the Deputy Tehsildar of Kancheepuram on Tuesday. He confessed to killing his associates, Manjunathan, Kumaran, Harikrishnan, Dharanikumar in 2007 and Veera in 2006.

According to officials, Devaraj and his gang were involved in 11 property-related crimes, apart from other petty crimes in Kancheepuram, Chengalpet and other nearby areas. They used to split the loot among themselves, and soon there were problems regarding the sharing. This led to a spate of murders.

8220;Because they were close friends, the relatives did not suspect him or other gang members when these men went missing,8221; said a senior official.