The arrested persons were identified as Ajai Kumar, Bharani Kumar, Divakar and Manokar, all final-year students of a private engineering college in Puducherry and staying in the college hostel. Police seized the gold, mobile phone and Rs 7,000 from the students.

Police said Venkatachalapathi (60), a retired employee of a private firm, is a resident of Balaji Nagar in Adambakkam. He became friends with four college students on Facebook a few days ago. While they were chatting on the messenger, Venkatachalapathi asked the students if they have got any job offer. After they students replied negatively, he invited them to his house promising to help them find jobs.

The students came to the city two days ago to meet him. Venkatachalapathi asked them to stay with him for a day, assuring to help them find jobs. However, Venkatachalapathi tried to misbehave with the students in the night.

Angered over this, the students threatened to report the incident to the police. Later, they blackmailed him and asked him to pay them money. Though Venkatachalapathi gave them Rs 7,000, they threatened him again and took 21.5 sovereign jewels and his smartphone. They also threatened him not to approach the police.

On Thursday morning, Venkatachalapathi filed a complaint with the Adambakkam police that his house was burgled and the valuables had gone missing. Police then traced his mobile phone signal to Puducherry.

Following this, a police team rushed to Puducherry and arrested the four students. As Venkatachalapathi’s statements were contradictory, police also interrogated him.

After the inquiry, police found that Venkatachalapathi tried to misbehave with the students. Police seized the valuables and the students were remanded in

judicial custody.