In an operation reminiscent of a cinematic thriller, the Hulimavu police in Bengaluru engaged in a high-speed, cross-state chase against a red sandalwood smuggler, covering a distance of 137 kilometers to Tamil Nadu. The dramatic pursuit led to the significant seizure of 316 kg of red sanders and a vehicle, although the primary suspect managed to evade capture. This incident is part of a larger crackdown that has uncovered a sophisticated smuggling network operating through the city.
The Tip-Off and Initial Arrest
Acting on specific intelligence received on November 7, police officers from Hulimavu and RT Nagar stations rushed to Gottigere lake on Bannerghatta Main Road. There, they found a parked Maruti Suzuki Zen and detained Ahmed Pasha (29), a resident of Saraipalya and native of Chintamani. From his vehicle, authorities recovered 95 kg of red sanders. A case was promptly registered against him under the stringent Karnataka Forest Act.
During a subsequent 20-day investigation, Pasha confessed to his role in a larger syndicate. He revealed that he and his associates procured the precious wood at a lower price from a contact in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. Their final destination was Tirupathur in Tamil Nadu, where they would sell the consignment at a higher price to another link in the smuggling chain. Pasha also informed the police that an associate was simultaneously transporting another load of red sanders to Tirupathur in a separate car.
The High-Speed Chase and Seizure
Based on Pasha's information, a police team set up a barricade to intercept the second smuggler. However, the driver spotted the trap and accelerated away, speeding onto the NICE Road towards Hosur. What followed was an intense pursuit that stretched all the way from Bengaluru to Tirupathur. Despite the police's efforts, the fugitive driver skillfully navigated rural backroads and ultimately slipped away.
Undeterred, the Karnataka police later traced the suspect's car, found abandoned and covered with a tarpaulin, in Chinnakandili village. They coordinated with their Tamil Nadu counterparts, who then seized the vehicle and approximately 316 kg of red sanders found inside.
Unearthing the Hidden Cache and Syndicate
The investigation took a deeper turn as police dug further into Pasha's operations. It was discovered that the smugglers had dug a concealed pit in a forested area of Kulumepalya near Bannerghatta to hide their illicit stock. From this pit, authorities recovered an additional 496 kg of red sanders and another vehicle used in the operation.
Furthermore, the police apprehended a juvenile involved in the racket and seized 236 kg of red sanders from him. When combined with the initial seizures, the Hulimavu police's total haul from this syndicate amounted to a staggering 1,143 kg of red sanders and three vehicles. Ahmed Pasha is currently in judicial custody, while the hunt for his escaped associate and other accused continues.
RT Nagar Police Make Separate Bust
In a parallel but connected operation, the RT Nagar police arrested two more individuals on November 29. Acting on a tip about a suspicious Mahindra Bolero parked at the Onion Ground in KHM Block, RT Nagar, officers rushed to the scene. They arrested Varaprasad Reddy and Rajashekar, both hailing from Andhra Pradesh, and seized 754.2 kg of red sanders that were hidden in gunny bags inside the SUV.
This series of coordinated busts highlights the persistent and organized nature of red sandalwood smuggling through Karnataka, linking source areas in Andhra Pradesh to endpoints in Tamil Nadu via Bengaluru's transit routes. The police have successfully disrupted a significant part of this illegal trade, recovering over 1,800 kg of the precious wood in total from these interlinked operations.
