The special investigation team (SIT) of the Kannur Rural police arrested another accused in the alleged robbery of a gold merchant and his family at Edat on June 2, taking the total number of arrests in the case to four.

The arrested, Abhinav, 36, a resident Chokli, was taken into custody from Iriitty on Tuesday (August 18, 20206) night. The police said he is an accused in 12 criminal cases.

The gang had allegedly attacked a gold merchant Kumar Jalandhar Nigam of Thalassery and his family on June 2 while they were travelling from Maharashtra to Thalassery along the national highway at Edat. The gang allegedly hijacked their car and escaped with around 30 sovereigns of gold and nearly ₹1.5 crore in cash.

The car was later abandoned in an uninhabited area. Those arrested earlier were Jijil alias Kuttan, 38, of Cherukunnu, Ashwanth, 26, of Maloor, and Sanu alias Sanu Santosh, 34, of Pappinsseri.

The investigation team has so far seized three vehicles in connection with the case. Abhinav will be produced in court, the police said.