An airhostess was arrested by the special police team from Chittoor for alleged involvement in smuggling of red sanders.

However, she has obtained bail from a local court. The police also seized documents as evidence for the money she had acquired through illegal operations.

Sources told The New Indian Express that the special police team was headed by Chittoor DSP Giridhar and Chittoor West CI Adhinarayana. It was formed after they got leads about the woman smuggler.

Apparently, the airhostess, Sangeetha Chatterjee’s role in the smuggling came to light after the police started investigating about M Lakshman, another smuggler. She is the second wife of Lakshmanan and allegedly used to take care of the money transactions in the smuggling operations.

An official told TNIE, “Her role in the smuggling of red sanders is one of a mediator. Whenever Lakshman pulled off an operation, Chatterjee used to take care of money transactions.”

The transactions took place in the last three to four years and include crores of rupees.

Moreover, amounts were credited to the accounts of Chatterjee and Lakshman from accounts of operators in China and Malaysia where the demand for red wood is very high.

The officials confiscated six bank books and took details of two bank lockers and passport.