A 38-year-old rice smuggler from Peelamedu was booked under the Goondas Act for his repeated involvement in the smuggling of ration rice from Coimbatore to the neighbouring State of Kerala.

The City Police on December 4 near Kuniyamuthur, arrested S Babu, a resident of Plague Mariamman Koil Street at Peelamedu in Coimbatore, while he was reportedly smuggling 1.7 tons of ration rice to sell in Kerala. Police retrieved the ration rice and remanded him in custody, lodging him at the Coimbatore Central Prison on the same day. The car that he used for smuggling was also seized.

Investigations revealed that Babu was a reported history sheeter in smuggling ration rice to Kerala and there are various such cases pending against him. He was reportedly buying ration rice for Rs 5 from neighbours and selling it for a profit in Kerala.

Based on a suggestion made by the Pollachi Police, the City Police Commissioner A Amalraj on Thursday ordered to book him under the Goondas Act and he was transported to the convict’s quarters in the central prison, on the same day.

Meanwhile, the district administration has issued a strict warning against all those who intend to sell or smuggle ration rice provided free by the State government.