CHENNAI: Two autorickshaw drivers near perambur ralway station on Tuesday were threatening and collecting money from fellow auto drivers to pay for bail for their ‘boss’, who is now in puzhal jail, were arrested by the Police. Policemen arrived after they were alerted by locals about the two men, and found the two drivers, Sheik, 28, of Madhavaram, and Suresh, 34, of Vysarpadi, threatening other auto drivers with knives. The two men tried to flee but were arrested when they saw the Police. They had been taking money from drivers to bail out repeat offender Sebastian, Police said. 30-year-old Sebastian was arrested by the Kodungaiyur Police in January in connection with an extortion case and was later sent to Puzhal prison. He was allegedly involved in the murder of a painter last year. Cases have been registered against him in Thiru-vi-ka Nagar, Sembiyam and MKB Nagar. Police said, “They needed around `20,000 to pay the advocates and meet other expenses to bail out Sebastian”. Sheikh and Suresh told Police that they had been threatening auto drivers from Moolakadai, Madhavaram, Kodungaiyur and Perambur for the past month and took `500 from each driver. Besides plying autorickshaws, the two had been accomplices of Sebastian for the past two years. Sembium Police have registered a case and the duo has been sent to jail. A hunt for two others has been launched by the Police in connection with the case.]]>
