NELLORE: The police have shifted their focus on some mediapersons and politicos, who have allegedly earned crores of rupees by engaging in red sanders smuggling.
According to sources, notorious interstate smuggler Saravanan, who was arrested in Chennai recently, revealed vital information during the interrogation regarding collusion of mediapersons with police and politicos, and had amassed properties, including lands.
The interrogation further revealed that a media representative had colluded with a police official in purchasing 40 acres in AS Peta Mandal, besides owning some plots there. The police had already listed the names of mediapersons who had been extending assistance in transportation of the ‘goods’ safely from the borders by not disseminating information through the media despite being aware of day-to-day activites of red sanders smugglers. The interrogation also revealed that some media persons had taken huge amounts from the smugglers and politicos for disseminating false information in the media about the actual route taken by the smugglers, so that could easily cross the borders during the time of police raids.
It is said that some media persons working in the district headquarters also worked as ‘couriers’ to the smugglers as they alerted the latter to escape from the spot during police raids. The police are also planning to take some media persons into custody.