Realtor, gang nabbed for smuggling sanders

Junior artiste, 2 others held with wood valued at `1cr

Inspired by a notorious red sanders smuggler from Andhra Pradesh, a realtor from Anantapur formed a gang and smuggled the wood to sell in Telangana state.

The Hyderabad police arrested the realtor and his three aides including a junior artiste on Thursday and seized 2.5 tonnes of red sanders worth `1 crore, and a car.

The police said that accused persons identified as N. Radha

Krishna, 40, a realtor from Anantapur, K. Chandra, 34, N. Chennaiah, 25, a junior artiste in the films hailing from Teegalapalli in Mahbubnagar and Ram Sevak Kumar M., 32, a watchman of a farmhouse at Pedda Shapur area. Another accused Shiva is still at large.

Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said Radha Krishna, who was doing real estate business, mining, coconut, and red gravel businesses incurred losses. Radha Krishna got inspired by notorious red sanders smuggler Gangi Reddy of Kadapa and formed a gang by involving the others.

“Radha Krishna along with his aide Shiva purchased 2,500 kg of red sanders at `400 per kg from the Lankamalla reserved forest in Kadapa. They collected wood with the help of Chandra and shifted it to the city by concealing in a car. The red sanders were put at Ram Sevak Kumar’s room at a farmhouse and agreed to pay `10,000 per month,” Mr Anjani Kumar said.

On Thursday, the accused persons were found moving under suspicious conditions in a car at Punjagutta, and a tip was received by the Task Force sleuths.

When the police teams checked the accused, it was found that the registration number plate of the car was fake and also red sanders were concealed in the car, the commissioner stated.

The accused have been placed under the arrest and the teams are working on the clues to apprehend another accused Shiva, Mr Anjani Kumar said.