SSI stocks 22 kg seized ganja in house; arrested

The arrest follows the seizure of 22 kg of ganja from the cop’s official residence in the police quarters on West Madha Church street, Royapuram. Sources privy to the investigation said that the arrested cop, identified as Sundaravadivel, was working hand-in glove with the ganja peddlers at Island Grounds and its adjoining areas including Annai Sathya Nagar where the sale of ganja thrives. 

Sources said the arrested SSI, who was on night rounds on Monday, reportedly intercepted a ganja peddler from Annai Sathya Nagar and recovered 22 kg of the banned substance. He loaded the ganja into his official vehicle and drove it to his quarters where he had kept it for safekeeping.

Meanwhile, information regarding the seizure was passed on to senior officials by the local police. However, Sundaravadivel neither informed his superiors nor did he record the seizure.

An internal inquiry into the incident revealed the SSI to be at fault and a prima facie case of illegal possession of ganja was made out against him. 

It also emerged that three of his subordinates, all women, were arrested and remanded in judicial custody and a significant amount of ganja was seized from them. Subsequently, Sundaravadivel was summoned to present his version of the story, which failed to impress the investigation officers. 

“We got to know from a local informant that Sundaravadivel had intercepted an autorickshaw during a vehicle check, and had seized ganja. Since he did not record the seizure, we carried out a search and recovered the contraband from his possession, which led to his arrest,” S Selva Kumar, DCP (Flower Bazaar), told DTNext. On suspending Sundaravadivel, Selva Kumar maintained that it will be done according to the procedures pending an internal probe.