Chennai: Sales tax officer manhandled

Chennai: A sales tax officer, identified as Dhanapal, was roughed up by a gang when he allegedly tried to seize a parcel containing China made goods at Othavadai street near Parrys on Sunday morning.

Police arrested two persons for the assault. The STO from Greams Road office had gone to several shops in Sowcarpet and was meeting a few shop owners.
Dhanapal reportedly intercepted a teenager who was walking with a huge parcel and asked the boy to show the contents.

When the boy refused to divulge details, Dhanapal reportedly snatched the parcel and made him open it. The parcel contained China made dolls and decorative items, worth over Rs 2 lakh. As the boy was not having any bills, Dhanapal said he was seizing the goods and asked the boy to bring shop owner to Greams Road office to collect it.

As Dhanapal was getting into his vehicle, the shop owner Punto came rushing and demanded the identity card of the officer.

When Dhanapal refused to show his ID card claiming that it was not mandatory to show his card to the shop owners, a heated argument followed after which the officer was allegedly manhandled.

Based on a complaint lodged by the STO at Elephant Gate police station, the police arrested, Laburam (25) of Perumal Mudali street and Nirmal (35) from Varadha Muthaiyappan street. “We are on the lookout for three more men,” police said.