Chennai: An AIADMK functionary and a businessman from Thiruvallur were arrested on Friday by CB-CID officials for masterminding the Aavin milk adulteration racket exposed a month ago. On August 19, Vellimedupettai police in Villupuram district busted the racket in which 1,800 litres of milk from a 12,000 litre private tanker carrying milk from Tiruvannamalai to the Aavin facility in Chennai was pilfered. The racket was reportedly underway for the past three months when the police tracked down the culprits. Eight persons were arrested in connection with the case.
Vaidyanathan, 52, who was arrested on Friday from Chennai, owns two transport companies and a fleet of over 100 tankers belonging to him are engaged in transporting milk from the facilities of Aavin in several districts across the state. According to the police, the stolen milk was taken in cans and transported in two mini lorries in a well-planned operation. The police seized the mini lorries with milk cans on board near Tindivanam and arrested eight persons, including Sathyaraj, Suresh and Ramesh of Tiruvannamalai.
The case was subsequently transferred to the CB-CID for further investigation. “On interrogation of the arrested persons and further inquiry, we found that Vaidyanathan had a key role in the entire operation,” a senior CB-CID official said. Further investigations are on.
