Two held with 300kg banned tobacco items

Coimbatore: Two people have been arrested for possession of banned tobacco products for sales near Karumathampatti on the outskirts of the city. Police have also seized 300kg gutka worth Rs 3 lakh and a car from the duo.

A police officer said Jithendra Kumar, 24, a native of Rajasthan, and Dharvesh, 35, a resident of Mettupalayam, were caught transporting banned tobacco products. Jithendra Kumar, he said, was residing at Somanur.

“They tried to divert the route on seeing police personnel involved in vehicle check near Brindavan Nagar in Karumathampatti on Tuesday night. The team, however, managed to stop the vehicle. One of the passengers suddenly got out of the vehicle and fled. The team caught the other two passengers and during the vehicle check they found the trio were transporting banned tobacco products,” the officer said.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the man who fled was Mothilal, who owns a shop at Somanur. “They were transporting the tobacco products from a warehouse to the shop,” the officer said.

Police have booked the accused under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (COTPA) Act. The arrested two were produced before a judicial magistrate, who remanded them in judicial custody.

“We have launched a manhunt for Mothilal. The arrested two are his employees,” the officer said.