Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Jun 30: Police personnel of city crime branch have arrested Mehboob (44) from Malagana from Bengaluru. Mehboob has been accused of manufacturing beedies of Mangalore Preethi Beedies at Bengaluru with the fake name, 'Prithvi Beedies', and then market these substandard beedies illegally.

The police have recovered 190 bundles of beedies bearing the label, 'Prithvi Beedies', worth about Rs 65,000. However, main accused, Abdul Rehman from Sira succeeded in fleeing from the police dragnet.

The policemen came to know that these beedies, which look identical to Preethi Beedies, were being manufactured and marketted at Bengaluru. They arrested the accused from near the fly over junction in front of Hotel Ranganath at Chamarajpet Bengaluru. The accused was handed over to Chamarajpet police station, where a case stands registered there.

The police said that Abdul Rehiman from Sira happens to be the brain behind this illegal business. Mehboob was hired to market these beedies to shops. When selling these beedies, it is said that both the accused used to convince the shopkeepers that these beedies are Preethi Beedies for all purposes except for name. The packets of beedies did not have retail prices printed on them, and the beedies were of poor standard, it is claimed. Innocent, illiterate, customers were taken a raid, as they believed that what they were buying were Mangalore Preethi Beedies. The accused even took care to ensure that the price of these beedies exactly matched with Preethi Beedies.

Abdul Rehman had been arrested during December last during the police operation against trafficking of red sanders. He had secured release on bail, and resorted to beedi manufacture thereafter.

Policemen are now trying to find out the present whereabouts of Abdul Rehman and bring him to book.