Vellore police seize 130 kg gutkha; three held

Three people were arrested after police seized 130 kg of gutkha during surprise checks near Katpadi in Vellore on Friday. Police said the arrested persons were identified as M. Sakthi Ganesh (26), R. Anandraj (25) and S. Rathinaram (28). While Rathinaram was a resident of Walajah in Ranipet, the other two were from Ponnai village near Katpadi.

In the initial investigation, it was revealed that special teams were formed on the instructions of Vellore SP A. Mayilvaganan to prevent illegal activities in the district.

Police said that during routine vehicle checks near the police check post at Ponnai Koot Road junction in Tiruvalam village near Katpadi in Vellore, the team stopped a car driven by Ganesh. He gave conflicting answers about the purpose of the trip.

The police suspected him and checked his vehicle, in which they found gutka. The consignment was sent to industrial towns like Sriperumbudur and Oragadam in Kancheepuram, where the banned product was sold to retailers. A case has been registered by Ponnai police. The gang was lodged in the Central Jail in Vellore. An investigation is ongoing.