CBI seeks custody of TN food safety department officer
The health inspector, Thiruvallur, Sivakumar was the sixth person to be apprehended by CBI in connection with the case.
Chennai: A day after the arrest of E. Sivakumar, a health inspector with the TN Food Safety Department in connection with the multi-crore gutka scam, CBI has approached the principal special court for CBI cases, Chennai, seeking his custody.
The health inspector, Thiruvallur, Sivakumar was the sixth person to be apprehended by CBI in connection with the case. He was produced before judge, principal special court for CBI cases, A. Thiruneelaprasad on Tuesday and remanded up to October 4.
Meanwhile, Thiruvallur police activated a separate mobile number to alert them on the illegal sale of gutka and other banned tobacco-based substances. The complaints can be registered at 9444042322.
Following the sensational raids at the houses and premises of health minister C. Vijayabaskar, Director General of Police (DGP) T.K Rajendran and others relating to the multi-crore gutka scam on September 5 by CBI, the personnel had arrested five persons in connection with the case on the next day. The arrested identified as promoters of gutka company, Jayam Industries, AV Madhava Rao and Uma Shankar Gupta, Food Safety and Drug Administration official P Senthil Murugan, Superintendent of Central Excise Department NK Pandian, and PV Srinivasa Rao.
The prosecution alleged that Jayam Industries was involved in the manufacture of gutka before it was banned by the state government in May 2013.
Following the ban on gutka, the company allegedly changed its name to Annamalai Industries and continued its business by bribing the officials concerned. Many officials from the sales tax department, FSSAI, police and the department of central excise and customs were accused of having received bribes in the case.
The scam came to the fore following raids conducted by IT department on July 8, 2017, at the godown, offices and residences of a pan masala and gutka manufacturer in Tamil Nadu, for tax evasion to the tune of '250 crore.
It may be noted that health inspector Sivakumar had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Madras high court order transferring the probe to the CBI. Upholding the Madras high court order, the apex court dismissed the plea. CBI registered an FIR and commenced probe in May and arrested six persons.