NEYYATTINKARA: The police have arrested a young man who stole anthurium plants worth two lakhs. The arrested has been identified as Vineeth Cletus (28) of Mudiyil house in Pudukkad Kizhakkathil in Kollam Chavara village. He stole about 200 anthurium plants of a special variety grown at the house of Vilasini Bhai, the wife of retired IRE officer Japamani, of Green House at Manchamkuzhi in Amaravila Kolla.

Japamani and his wife Vilasini Bhai have won the President's Award in 2017 for the maintenance of ornamental plants. It has been proved that in March 2011 and three months ago, the accused had committed theft by dressing up as a woman. The accused was caught during an investigation based on CCTV footage.

After the incident, the accused was absconding in Bengaluru. The accused used to sell the plants through social media. The police have received information that the accused has committed similar crimes in the past.

The suspect was arrested by a team consisting of sub-inspector R Sajeev, assistant police sub-inspectors Suresh Kumar, Ajithakumari and civil police officer Ratheesh AK under the leadership of Neyyatinkara station inspector CC Pratapachandra. The accused was produced in the Neyyatinkara court.