Tirupati: Five people, including a Sub-Inspector of anti-smugglers task force, were arrested yesterday on charges of smuggling red sander logs. The arrested SI has been identified as Somasekhara of the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF).
The police intercepted a speeding vehicle and subsequently seized two vehicles with 21 red sanders logs worth Rs 14 lakh. The accused sub-inspector was driving one vehicle which was followed by the other carrying the four smugglers, said media reports.
Media reports revealed that the police grew suspicious of Somasekhara aiding smugglers for the illegal transportation of the red sanders logs outside the district but were only able to nab him along with smugglers yesterday.
The police have registered a case and further investigations have begun.