Sandalwood worth Rs 25 lakh seized

Thane, Apr 12: Police today seized smuggled red sandalwood logs worth Rs 25 lakh from a goddown at Upardi village near Manpada in Dombivali town of the district. Acting on a tip-off, the crime branch officials raided the godown where around 8 tonnes of red sandalwood smuggled from the jungles was stored, police said.

The total value of the sandalwood is Rs 25 lakh, the police said, adding that four people have been arrested in this connection. The arrested have been identified as Mani Shankaran, Ajit Uparkar, Pallani and Krishna. They have have been charged with illegal felling of trees, theft of forest wealth and stealing of sandalwood, the police said.

UNI