The provisions of the Goondas Act were invoked against a man accused of smuggling rice meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the Nilgiris.
According to officials, the accused, identified as Mohammaed, 33, of Cherambadi in Gudalur, was arrested on January 24 after police attached to the Civil Supplies Criminal Investigation Department in Nilgiris district received a tip-off about potential rice smuggling in the district. They stopped the truck and interrogated Mohammed.
As his answers remained evasive, they searched his vehicle and discovered 1,400 kg of rationed rice packed in 35 sacks. He was then arrested and taken into judicial custody. During the investigation, it was revealed that Mohammed was arrested for a similar offense in 2021 and that he is currently being investigated in the case.
Civil Supplies Investigation Department officials said strict legal action would be taken against those illegally smuggling, hoarding or selling in the black market commodities distributed to the public under the Tamil Nadu government’s public distribution scheme.
Published – 20 Feb 2026 19:46 IST