Chennai: The two Irani gangsters would have shown the city police a clean pair of heels but for their colourful sneakers. They changed their shirts on the way to the airport but kept their shoes, which helped the police identify them.
City police commissioner A Arun said, “As soon as the first robbery was reported around 6.10am on Tuesday, I asked police to step up security especially at the airport, metro stations, Chennai Central, as we knew a gang from outside the state had struck in a similar fashion in Tambaram last month.”
The city was put on red alert and south Chennai additional commissioner N Kannan formed four team — to monitor CCTV cameras, check for suspects at Chennai Central railway station, monitor the airport, and to work with cybercops.
Chennai airport inspector Pandi was asked to collect details of those who booked flight tickets between 8am and 10.30am.
Meanwhile, the culprits parked the bike under an MRTS pillar at Taramani and took a taxi to the airport. In the car, they changed their shirts and caps. They shared the booty and Salman Hussain boarded an autorickshaw to Central railway station.
At the airport Pandi and his team identified Jaffer Gulam Hussain Irani by his sneakers and track pants while he was waiting at the airline counter to collect his boarding pass to Mumbai. However, Meesan Amjith Irani had already boarded a flight to Hyderabad. “The team had to explain the situation to the flight crew and other passengers before they could arrest Meesan Amjith Irani who kept proclaiming his innocence,” said Arun.