Panchayat secretary arrested with red sanders in Andhra Pradesh

Kadapa SP Attada Babujee said S Babu (48) was caught with 36 red sander logs valued at Rs 1.5 crore, and added that he is suspected to have involved in smuggling nearly 500 tonnes of red sanders from Andhra Pradesh so far. The officer said Babu, who has links with smugglers across the country, was a front for many politicians. Police also seized three luxury cars, a Sumo and five mobile phones from him. 

While the arrest came as a shock for the family members, they were also relieved to learn about his whereabouts after he went missing three days ago. 

According to local sources, Babu was running a small iron rods and cement business on the Anaikattu -Odugathur road selling iron rods and cement. While he and his son were staying in Katpadi, his wife Premalatha was staying with his daughter in Namakkal, where she is studying in Class 12 student.

On Monday, Premalatha called to ask him to return home early as their son was alone. When she called him again to confirm that he had indeed got home, it was found to be switched off. She then called their son, who informed her that Babu was yet to reach home. Worried, Premalatha then rang up shopkeepers who informed her that Babu had already closed the shop and left. 

She then filed a complaint with the Anaikattu police stating that she feared that her husband could have been kidnapped, following which a special team was formed to trace him. 

In the meanwhile, police in Vellore received the information from their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh that Babu was in their custody for red sander smuggling.