Thief steals ₹50cr jewelry from newly-opened Tanishq showroom
What's the story
A daring heist at a newly opened Tanishq showroom in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, has left authorities stunned. The incident is believed to have taken place on Wednesday night, with a lone thief making away with gold and diamond jewelry worth ₹50 crore. When employees arrived at the showroom on Thursday, they discovered that jewelry displayed for sale was gone, India Today reported. CCTV footage revealed the suspect entered through an opening near the lift shaft where installation work was ongoing.
Discovery
Preliminary estimates suggest 13kg of gold, 3kg of diamond jewelry
Preliminary estimates suggest around 13kg of gold and 3kg of diamond jewelry were kept at the showroom.
However, an exact inventory is still being conducted by officials to ascertain the total value of stolen items.
After discovering the jewelry gone, the employees immediately alerted the police, who rushed to the spot and launched an investigation.
The suspect, dressed in black with a full-face mask, is believed to have used a rope for the lift installation work to enter the showroom.
Investigation
Building has three floors
The building has three floors; while sales were conducted on the ground floor, the second floor was vacant and work was underway on the third floor.
The showroom was inaugurated on October 14.
Police have formed nine special teams and seized CCTV footage from the showroom and surrounding areas.
They are also examining vehicles that passed through the area around 3:00am when the robbery is believed to have occurred.
Aftermath
AIADMK leader criticizes Chief Minister over robbery incidents
Surveillance at railway stations has been intensified as authorities suspect an escape by train could be possible due to proximity to Madurai's railway station.
The incident has also sparked political controversy, with AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami criticizing Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over deteriorating law and order.
Palaniswami cited the Tanishq showroom burglary and other robbery incidents across Tamil Nadu as evidence of government failure to protect citizens' lives and property.