Kovilpalayam police near Coimbatore arrested three men for allegedly smuggling banned gutkha after a dramatic chase in the early hours of Sunday. The incident, which unfolded like a film sequence, created a stir in the area.
Police said they received a tip-off that gutkha was being transported along the route from a coffee shop near Saravanampatti towards Vilankurichi on the Coimbatore–Sathyamangalam National Highway. Sub-Inspector Vignesh and head constable Velmurugan began vehicle checks around 5.45 am.
A Karnataka-registered Creta car (KA05NG7692) was stopped for questioning. While the SI was speaking to the occupants, the car suddenly sped away. Velmurugan, who was holding onto a roof rail, climbed onto the vehicle and lay on the roof, holding on as it continued moving.
The car was chased through Vilankurichi, Kalapatti and Chitra towards the Kaniyur toll plaza, covering about 40 km without stopping. Police patrol teams, along with a National Highway ambulance, joined the pursuit, and the vehicle was finally intercepted near a private hotel on the Avinashi–Coimbatore road.
The suspects were identified as Babu Dhara (27), Rajesh (23) and Suresh (20), all from Rajasthan. Police said the trio had brought 300 kg of gutkha worth about Rs 3 lakh from Bengaluru for distribution to shops in Coimbatore district. The car and the contraband were seized, and a case has been registered for further investigation.
