High drama as public stop container mistaking it for carrying

High drama was witnessed when public stopped a container truck here suspecting it contained cash for distribution to voters, but a search proved it was carrying tea bound for Kochi port en route to Spain.

A member of actor-politician Kamal Hassan's Makkal Neethi Maiam was detained on the charge of spreading rumours that the truck contained huge cash, resulting in law and order problem after a large crowd gathered, police said.

The incident brought back memories of the seizure of three trucks carrying around Rs 570 crore in cash in neighbouring Tiruppur district during the May, 2016 Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

The cash was later claimed by the State Bank of India which provided documents to prove it was an inter-bank transfer from Coimbatore to Visakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

In Tuesday's incident, the slow moving truck was stopped in the early hours by the crowd which tried to break open the container despite the crew saying it was transporting tea, police said.

Soon, police arrived at the spot and dispersed the mob.

The truck was then taken to the district collectorate after informing the election department and when authorities opened it they found dust tea worth around 30 lakh, they said.

Owners of the tea consignment also reached the collectorate and submitted copies of documents, including clearance given by the Customs for the export.

Tamil Nadu, which goes to Lok Sabha elections in the second phase on April 18, has been witnessing seizures of unaccounted cash and jewels by the election flying squad officials in different parts of the state.