The theft in Congress strongman and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s well— guarded residence in Chennai which caused ripples all over ended on Thursday with the city Police arresting 45-year-old Vennila and her sister Viji. Both have been working with the Chidambaram family for the last 15 years and have told police that they only stole the articles.
On Saturday night, Murali, the manager of the Chidambaram’s house, had filed a complaint with the Nungambakkam Police that gold jewellery and cash worth Rs 2.5 lakh were found missing from the residence. Chidambaram, his advocate wife Nalini, son Karti and daughter-in-law Srinidhi were away when the theft occurred.
On receipt of the complaint the police started the investigation and zeroed in on the number of CCTV cameras installed around the palatial residence of the Chidambarams. They identified the two housemaids entering the house, covering the CCTV cameras with a cloth and coming out of the room where the cupboards have been kept.
Muthuvel Pandian, assistant commissioner of police, told reporters that there was a request from the family of Chidambaram to keep the complaint in abeyance. “On Tuesday we arrested these two housemaids who conceded that they only took away the materials while their employers were away. They have been remanded in judicial custody,” said Pandian.