Two women of Tiruchy, the Fort City have been minting crores by being part of the organised network of red sanders smuggling. While one played a perfect role of a custodian of wealth amassed by her nephew through the illegal business, the other was a perfect partner for her husband’s red sanders smuggling activities.
Forty-year-old Jothi Lakhmi was in the news recently following her arrest along with her husband Nagen dran of Alagiri Nagar in Sathuvachari in Vellore in connection with a red sanders smuggling case. Inquiry into the murder of a red sanders smuggler showed that the couple had been actively involved in red sanders smuggling for the past six months.
The couple hatched a plan and looted their friend-turned-foe Chinnapayan a day before the latter was found murdered on May 25. The arrest of the couple also unearthed a nexus with Deputy Superintendent of Police of Prohibtion Enforcement Wing Thangavel, who is still on the run. Her role went a step further as police claimed that she had persuaded Thangavel to aid their criminal activities.
“The woman (Jothi Lakhmi) convinced the police officer to help them take the logs worth several crores from Chinnapayan,” said the police.
Jothi Lakshmi along with her husband and the DSP have been booked under Sections 120 (b), 420 and 384 of IPC read with rule 5, 35 (b), 36 (a) and (b) of Indian Forest Act 1882. She finds her name as one of the prime accused in the case. The police have also seized 3.5 tonnes of red sanders worth around `4 crore, `32 lakh in cash and three four-wheelers from the couple.
Last year, the arrest of a folk artist Mohana of Vasanthapuram in connection with red sanders smuggling came as a shocker for many as it showed the involvement of a woman in the male-dominated illegal activity. The police, acting on a tip, raided the rented house of the 54 year-old folk artist in Tharapadavedu on May 25, 2014. They stumbled upon a stack of currency notes in cartons, gunny bags and carry bags in a 70 sq ft rented portion.
The inquiry into the seizure of the huge haul of currency led to the arrest of several red sanders smugglers and their international links.
“Though Mohana was not actively involved in red sanders smuggling, she had been helping her sister’s son Saravanan (31). She was the custodian for Sarvanan’s amassed wealth,” said a police officer, who had then questioned the folk artist.
It was the raid at Mohana’s house and subsequent inquiries that led to the arrest of 14 persons who were actively involved in smuggling of the precious logs.
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