Chennai, March 16 A high-profile criminal, allegedly involved in over 30 criminal cases, including five murders, was killed in a "police encounter" early Monday morning in the Madhavaram area of the city, a police official said.
The deceased, identified as Thoppai Ganesan, was a key suspect in a recent major robbery case involving Rs 25 lakh.
According to police sources, the encounter took place around 5:45 am, near the Chinna roundabout in Madhavaram. A special team had been tracking Ganesan's movements as part of an investigation into the robbery.
"The police team cornered him near the roundabout, but the suspect attempted to flee. When an officer tried to apprehend him, Ganesan allegedly attacked the personnel with a weapon in an attempt to escape," a senior police official said.
The police reportedly fired warning shots in the air, but when Ganesan continued to resist and attack, the team opened fire in self-defense.
Ganesan sustained severe bullet injuries and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital in Puzhal, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His body was later transferred to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.
Ganesan was considered a notorious figure in the city's underworld, with his criminal record spanning several years and multiple jurisdictions.