TIRUNELVELI: Tirunelveli City police arrested jail warden Thamizharasan, who was allegedly linked to a ganja smuggling network operating across the southern districts.

Following his arrest, Palayamkottai Central Prison Superintendent Senthamarai Kannan suspended him.

Based on a tip-off, a police team led by Tirunelveli Town police inspector Subbiah intercepted a luxury car on the Tirunelveli-Courtallam road on Sunday. During a search of the vehicle, the police found 2 kg of ganja and Rs 10 lakh in cash. They arrested M Thamizharasan (31) of Vittalapuram in Thoothukudi district and V Naveen (25) of Murappanadu in Tirunelveli district.

Further investigation revealed that Thamizharasan was working as a warden at Perurani Jail in Thoothukudi.

Earlier, while working as a warden at Palayamkottai Central Prison, he developed a close acquaintance with Dinesh, an associate of alleged ganja dealer Estate Mani, a police source said.

Subsequently, Thamizharasan allegedly came into contact with a network involved in smuggling ganja across the southern districts and earned lakhs of rupees through the illegal trade, the source said.

He allegedly developed contacts with ganja sellers from Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Thoothukudi districts when they were lodged at Palayamkottai Central Prison and Perurani Jail in connection with ganja cases.

A month ago, Palayamkottai police arrested Dinesh and Estate Mani in connection with a ganja smuggling case and lodged them in Palayamkottai Central Prison.

Police learnt about Thamizharasan's alleged involvement during their interrogation of Dinesh and Estate Mani, the source said.

Following the arrest of Thamizharasan, a joint team of police and prison officials searched the cells of inmates, the cooking area and the wardens' quarters at Perurani Jail. However, no narcotic substances, including ganja, were seized during the search.

The city police produced Thamizharasan before a Judicial Magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody in Madurai Central Prison.