Police have launched a major investigation after two helmet-wearing motorcycle-borne men allegedly snatched a bag containing around 2kg of gold, estimated to be worth ₹2.6 crore, from a jeweller in Thiruvananthapuram’s Chalai market on Thursday night.
The incident occurred at around 10.35pm when Nandakumar R, 50, owner of Vaishnavi Jewellery, was returning home on his scooter after closing his shop. The assailants allegedly intercepted him near the State Bank of India branch on Marakkada Road and fled with the bag.
Fort police have registered a case and are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to reconstruct the suspects’ movements. Investigators have identified the motorcycle allegedly used in the crime and are working to trace the two men.
According to the police, the accused fled at high speed through the Power House flyover towards the Thakaraparambu side. Both suspects were wearing helmets, and their identities had not been established in the information available from the investigation.
City police commissioner Arul R B Krishna said the assailants could have closely monitored Nandakumar and tracked his movements before carrying out the snatching. Police are investigating whether the suspects had prior information about the jeweller’s routine and the movement of gold from the shop.
Nandakumar told reporters that he and his son had closed the jewellery shop and were travelling home separately in different vehicles when the incident occurred. He said one motorcycle was travelling ahead of his scooter while two men on another motorcycle approached him and allegedly took the bag before he could react.
The alleged heist occurred in Chalai, one of Thiruvananthapuram’s busiest traditional commercial areas, where jewellery and other businesses operate amid dense evening movement. The police operation is focused on identifying the suspects through CCTV footage and determining how they tracked the jeweller before the attack.
Police teams are continuing efforts to identify and apprehend the accused while examining the route from Marakkada Road through the Power House flyover towards Thakaraparambu.
