A lone masked robber broke into a newly-opened Tanishq showroom in Tamil Nadu's Madurai and escaped with 11.465 kg of gold worth approximately Rs 16 crore and diamond jewellery worth Rs 15 crore in a daring overnight heist. Police have formed nine special teams to track down the accused, while forensic experts are conducting an extensive examination of the showroom for clues.

The theft came to light on Thursday morning when employees arrived at the showroom on Madurai Bypass Road and discovered that jewellery displayed for sale was missing. The staff immediately alerted the police, who rushed to the spot and launched an investigation.

Speaking to India Today, a senior Madurai police officer confirmed that 11.465 kg of gold and diamond jewellery worth around Rs 15 crore had been stolen. Earlier reports had claimed that the stolen valuables could be worth up to Rs 50 crore.

An examination of CCTV footage revealed that a man dressed entirely in black and wearing a full-face mask entered the showroom through an opening near the lift shaft, where installation work was underway.

Police suspect that the robber used a rope installed for the ongoing lift work to access the building and reach the ground-floor showroom. Police are also examining an iron scaffolding structure erected at the rear of the building for construction and maintenance work to determine whether it was used to gain entry.

The showroom is housed in a three-storey building and was inaugurated on October 14. While sales were being conducted on the ground floor, the second floor was vacant and work was underway on the third floor to install lockers for storing jewellery.

Several construction and maintenance activities, including lift installation, painting, electrical and plumbing work, were still in progress when the robbery took place.

POLICE PROBE POSSIBLE INSIDER INVOLVEMENT

Nine special teams have been formed to track down the suspect. Police have seized CCTV footage from the showroom and neighbouring areas and are examining vehicles that passed through the locality around 3 am, when the robbery is suspected to have taken place.

Investigators are also looking into the possibility of insider involvement and are verifying the identities and whereabouts of people who recently entered the showroom.

Speaking to India Today, the senior police officer said investigators were checking records of people who had visited the premises in recent weeks, including former employees.

"We are checking the list of people who entered the showroom recently. Everyone is a suspect and we are questioning everyone. We are also examining the details of past employees," the officer said.

Asked whether police suspected the involvement of someone from within the showroom, the officer said all possibilities were being investigated.

Police currently believe that only one person carried out the robbery, based on the available evidence. However, investigators are probing whether more people were involved in planning or executing the heist.

Several workers from northern states had been engaged for construction, interior decoration and showcase installation at the showroom. Their identities, whereabouts and mobile phone network locations are also being verified.

Meanwhile, forensic experts visited the showroom for the second consecutive day to collect evidence and search for clues that could help identify the masked robber.

The team examined the walls and iron framework behind the showroom, lift cables, jewellery boxes, staircases, water bottles, doors and door handles for fingerprints and other forensic evidence.

With investigators yet to find significant clues that could establish the identity of the suspect, forensic experts have begun another round of evidence collection using advanced equipment. They are attempting to identify even the smallest traces that could help crack the case.

Police have also circulated CCTV footage of the suspect among personnel deployed at major bus terminals and railway stations across Madurai.

Given the showroom's proximity to the railway station, investigators are examining the possibility that the robber may have attempted to escape by train, potentially towards Kerala or other northern states. Surveillance has been intensified at railway stations, while vehicle checks have been stepped up across the district.

CUSTOMER SAYS JEWELLERY PURCHASED FOR WEDDING ALSO STOLEN

The robbery has also left customers who had recently purchased jewellery from the showroom worried about their orders.

Pandi, a customer who visited the showroom to purchase jewellery for a friend's wedding, said he had paid for the ornaments but was asked to collect them the following day.

He said he had initially carried cash, but showroom staff informed him that cash payments were restricted to Rs 2 lakh. They suggested that he use UPI or a card instead.

However, his bank had a daily transaction limit of Rs 1 lakh. After making the payment, he was told to return the next day to collect the jewellery.

Following the robbery, he was informed that the jewellery he had purchased was among the missing items.

Pandi said showroom representatives had assured him that they would try to recover his jewellery. They also promised to arrange the same ornaments from other branches if the stolen pieces could not be found.

EPS TARGETS VIJAY OVER LAW AND ORDER

Meanwhile, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami attacked Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over the robbery, alleging that Tamil Nadu's law-and-order situation had deteriorated.

In a post on X, Palaniswami referred to the theft of jewellery worth Rs 50 crore from the Tanishq showroom and cited several other alleged robbery incidents across the state to accuse the government of failing to protect people's lives and property.

Questioning the Chief Minister's claims on law and order, Palaniswami demanded immediate action against those involved in the robberies and urged the government to ensure public safety.

- Ends