Duo caught with 5 tonnes of gutkha

The accused were identified as K Alibaba (52) of Urapakkam and C Saravanan (34), natives of Tirunelveli district. The police said that they intercepted Alibaba on Outer Ring Road near Tirumudivakkam on Saturday during a vehicle check and 20 kg gutkha in his bag was seized. Based on his inputs, Saravanan was also nabbed. Investigation revealed that the duo had hidden a huge consignment of the banned products at a rented premise in Urapakkam and planned to distribute it to the shops across the city. The house was raided and gutkha kept in 50 gunny bags were seized. Both were remanded in judicial custody on Sunday and a hunt has been launched for their employer identified as Murugan.