TRICHY: City police arrested four people for smuggling Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) from Puducherry here the other day. A total of 28 cases containing 636 bottles of liquor were seized from them. Police are on the lookout of two more persons involved in the racket.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of police officers from prohibition and enforcement wing (PEW), Trichy rushed to a house in Selvam Nagar near Karumandapam on Trichy – Dindigul Road at 10.30pm. In the house, they noticed a van, which was loaded with vegetable trays, covered on three sides with tin sheets. They became suspicious and enquired about it with four persons, who were near the place.
Police found out that they had hidden liquor bottles under the vegetable trays and had crossed police check posts at the district’s entrance without getting caught. The illegal consignment from Puducherry contained 636 bottles of brandy and beer.
The accused were identified as S Rakesh, 26, of Ayyalamman Padithurai in Trichy, van owner T Senthil, 37, of Pudupettai in Puducherry and V Baraniraj, 36, of Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
B Dravidamani, a native of Thanjavur, who resides in Reddy Palayam in Puducherry, had procured the liquor and sold them off in Trichy through Rakesh.
PEW police said IMFL smuggled from Puducherry is high on demand among tipplers in Trichy because of its low price and better quality. Police have also seized the van and a two-wheeler used by the culprits.
A case was registered against three people and Dravidamani under Sections 4(1) (aaa) r/w 4(1-A) and Transport of TNP Act. A special team has been formed to nab Dravidamani.
