Four of Family Arrested for Kidnapping Rival Drug Peddler Outside Puzhal Prison

The Puzhal police arrested four members of a family from Triplicane on Sunday after they allegedly kidnapped a rival drug peddler at knifepoint moments after his release on bail outside Puzhal prison, near GNT Road in Chennai. The accused were identified as B Vinoth, aged 35, his brother B Balaji, aged 33, their mother Thenmozhi, aged 55, and Vinoth’s sister M Mohana, aged 35. The victim, 32-year-old Satheesh Kumar, was targeted in an attempt to extort a share of his illegal narcotics earnings.

According to the police, Vinoth and Balaji had been arrested in connection with a narcotics case last month and were subsequently remanded to Puzhal prison. While inside the detention facility, the brothers reportedly engaged in an ongoing rivalry with Satheesh over the distribution and sale of illegal drugs. During their time in custody, Vinoth and Balaji repeatedly demanded that Satheesh pay them a share of the money he generated through the trade.

The timeline of their bail releases led directly to the confrontation on Sunday. Balaji was granted bail and released from Puzhal prison last week, while both Vinoth and Satheesh secured bail and were set free on Sunday. As Satheesh stepped out of the prison gates, the four family members intercepted him on the spot.

The family members allegedly forced Satheesh into a car and drove towards GNT Road. Inside the vehicle, the accused threatened Satheesh at knifepoint, demanding that he regularly pay them a cut from his narcotics business moving forward. They explicitly warned the victim that he would be killed if he refused to comply.

Despite the threats, Satheesh managed to escape from the vehicle. He immediately filed a complaint with the Puzhal police, who tracked down the suspects using the car's registration number.

All four family members were booked for kidnapping and criminal intimidation and were subsequently lodged in prison.