Excise sleuths arrest four at Kolhapur

Kolhapur, Jan 14 (UNI) State excise department sleuths today arrested four persons for allegedly transporting 32 tonnes of black jaggery illegally at Shiroli tehsil in Kolhapur.

Acting on a tip-off, they intercepted two trucks carrying black jaggery which were entering Maharashtra on the Chipari-phata road at the Shiroli tehsil. A search led to the recovery of black jaggery weighing 32 tonnes, excise officials said.

Four persons have been arrested and the consignment as well as the truck used in the operation, collectively valued about Rs 17.84 lakhs, has been seized, they added.

The arrested persons have been identified as Subramani Govindraj (36), Dnyankumar (21), S Devaswaigam (37) and Devan Vardharaj (25), all residents of Tamil Nadu.

UNI