Chennai: The gangster who hit headlines when he wielded a machete to cut his birthday cake, surrendered before the police on the suburbs of Chennai. The cops had issued a shoot-at-sight order against Binu Pappachan, aged 47, after he fled the police who busted his birthday party last week.

Acting on a tipoff, more than 100 cops swooped down on the neighborhood and arrested 75 goons gathered to celebrate Binu’s birthday on February 6 night. Though the raid proved to be a bonanza for the police - most of the revelers were absconders accused of heinous offenses such as murder - Binu managed to flee with his associates.

Originally from Kerala, Binu is accused of more than 30 criminal cases. He had been evading arrest for three years. His nemesis came in the form of a birthday party organized by his brother in Chennai. Binu, who surrendered before the deputy commissioner at Ambattur, said that he was not in contact with any gangs for three years and only his brother knew his whereabouts.

He said that he was not aware of the presence of his former associates until he reached the party venue. He was given the machete by his brother. He said that he had to surrender because he had health issues.

The party was attended by about 200 goons and some of them hit the streets with knives in a drunken stupor. The police, already alerted about the party by a goon who landed in their custody during a routine check earlier in the day, swiftly acted on the local people’s complaint.

When the cops gatecrashed into the party just before midnight, some of the criminals managed to flee by jumping in the nearby Chembarambakkam river. The police seized four cars, 45 two-wheelers and weapons including knives and swords. Binu has been remanded.

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