Gutkha scam: No sanction yet to prosecute officials

Till September 30, the government has not given sanction to prosecute Senthil Murugan of Food Safety and Drug Administration department and E Sivakumar, the then Tiruvallur health inspector. Both were arrested by CBI in connection with the gutkha case. In September 2018, the CBI had raided the residence of Health Minister C Vijay Baskar, and former DGP TK Rajendran and ex-Commissioner S George in connection with the Rs 40 crore scam. It had arrested six persons, including three government officials, for allegedly collecting bribe to allow the illegal trade of banned tobacco products, including gutkha.