Tobacco smuggling continues through rail, says NGO

Arappor Iyakkam, the anti-corruption outfit, which had exposed the smuggling racket that operated allegedly with the connivance of officials, sought the case to be handed over to the CBI for detailed investigation.

The NGO had submitted video evidence that gutka and pan masala, sale of which is banned in the state, were being illegally ferried on Thirukkural Express in January. Following this, the Railway Vigilance had seized 200 carton boxes of the contraband at the Madurai Junction station in February. On Monday, RPF inspector at Dindigul seized contraband worth Rs 15 lakh. However, no FIRs are filed for such seizures, alleged the organisation. 

Pointing out that they had explained the entire modus operandi through video evidences, the organisation expressed shock that the banned tobacco products were being transported on same train. This, they said, was due to the failure to act against the racket.

Addressing the media here, the NGO members said that result from the sample of the gutka seized in February, which was sent to the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration for testing, was alarming. “The test result showed it as ‘unsafe and prohibited’ in April. Despite this, no FIR has been filed till date, nor any departmental or criminal action was taken,” said the members of the NGO said, urging the Southern Railway to handover the case immediately to the CBI.