The victim Panjamritham, a resident of Vadakupet near Medavakkam, had hired an autorickshaw for going to a hospital. The driver aged around 20 told the elderly woman that her gold chain is in a bad condition and it might fall down anytime and asked her to remove it and keep it safely in her bag. He helped the woman to pack the chain in a sheet of paper.

After packing, the driver handed over the paper to her and asked her to keep it safe. When Panjamritham opened the paper packing after she reached home, she was shocked to see her gold chain replaced by a yellow rope. After realising she was cheated, she lodged a complaint at Pallikaranai police station.