Driver vanishes with lorry, 27 tonnes of rice

The driver, identified as KK Samy, was working for lorry owner S Maruthumuthu of Annamalai Nagar for the last 10 days. Samy was assigned to take 27 tonnes of rice from Tiruvottiyur to a wholesale rice merchant in Poonamallee on Monday night. Maruthumuthu had assigned one Sundar Raj as assistant for the lorry driver.

After loading the 27,000 kg rice worth Rs 21 lakh, the lorry left for Poonamallee. When it reached Annamalai Nagar on Monday night, Samy suggested to Sundar Raj to go home to freshen up and return after finishing dinner. He said he would have tea and wait near the shop for Sundar Raj to return. Trusting his words, Sundar Raj went home to have dinner and returned to find that the vehicle (TN 28 BC 7517) had vanished with the rice and driver.

He then informed the lorry owner about the incident, who in turn lodged a complaint with the police. Samy’s mobile phone is switched off and the vehicle had no GPS to track, police added.