Chennai: 7.9 tonnes of gutka seized, owner absconding

Chennai: The food safety department raided a godown and seized 7.9 tonnes of gutka tobacco product worth Rs 55 lakh in Royapuram on Friday.

Tipped off by the police in Royapuram, food safety officers raided the place at around 11.30 on Friday morning, only to find tonnes of gutka. "The police has taken all the items under their custody and are planning to file a case against the Deepam Roadways Transport on S. N. Chetty Street, the godown where the product was found,” said food safety officer K. Jebraj.

“We conduct checks on a regular basis, however, as this was in a transport godown, we went ahead based on a tip-off. The area is full of godowns,” he said, adding that the police are on the lookout for the owner Balaji who is absconding.