Maharaja arrested for kidnapping plot in Chennai

Chennai police shot a man known as Maharaja, 31, on Friday morning when he tried to escape arrest. The police shot him below his right knee during an attempted attack near Guindy. They also found a homemade gun with him. Maharaja, a known criminal from Thoothukudi, is the sixth person shot and arrested in Tamil Nadu in just two days. Maharaja was involved in a plan to kidnap the son of a gold jewelry shop owner in Adambakkam. Police had arrested three other suspects last week, which led them to Maharaja's hideout in Tirunelveli. During questioning, Maharaja revealed he had parked a motorcycle near the Guindy Race Course. When police took him there for it, he pulled out the gun he was hiding, prompting them to fire back and injure him. He was soon treated at Royapettah Government Hospital. Maharaja has a long history of crime, facing charges including robbery, murder, and extortion. He gained attention last year when the wife of an IAS officer committed suicide after allegedly eloping with him. Since then, he lost many businesses, including his hotel and luxury car, and ended up in jail. After his release, he planned the kidnapping. A police team, led by joint commissioner Sibi Chakaravarthy, interrupted the plot when they stopped another suspect carrying a gun at a checkpoint. This led to the arrest of Maharaja and his accomplices, stopping the abduction before it could happen.