Balabhaskar’s driver held in gold robbery case

Kozhikode: Driver of violinist Balabhaskar, who had died in a car accident in 2018, was arrested by police in a case related to robbery of gold from owners of a jewellery at Perinthalmanna on Nov 21.Perinthalmanna DSP T K Shyju said the arrested accused, Arjun, was part of the conspiracy hatched by the 18-member gang to rob the gold from a jewellery owner at Perinthalmanna. Arjun, hailing from Thrissur, had allegedly waited in a car at Cherpulassery and had taken the four accused in the case who were carrying the 3kg of robbed gold in his car to another location.Allegations had surfaced following the road accident in which Balabhaskar was killed that Arjun had links with gold smuggling gangs.A nine-member gang had robbed the gold by knocking down the two owners of the jewellery with their car on Nov 21. The gang then travelled to Cherupulassery in Palakkad and four members who were carrying the gold in two bags got down from the vehicle and boarded Arjun's car and travelled to another location.Shyju said that Arjun was also part of the conspiracy and the gang had conducted a recce and each member of the gang had a particular role assigned to him. Police have nabbed 13 of the 18 accused in the case.Police, however, said that the current case is not related to Balabhaskar's death.