Madurai:
An autorickshaw driver escaped with a bag containing Rs 51,000 belonging to two passengers he was carrying, after asking them to get down and push the vehicle on the pretext that the battery was weak, police said.
They said a factory employee from Punalur in Kerala had arrived here last night and engaged the autorickshaw to go to Tirumangalam along with his relative. They had spoken about redeeming some jewellery they had pledged and the cash they were carrying with them.
The driver, who overheard the conversation, stopped the vehicle in a secluded area and pretended to start it even without opening the fuel tap. Then he asked the duo to push the vehicle and fled with the bag even as they raised an alarm.
Police are on the lookout for the auto driver.