3 held trying to sell snake venom worth Rs 2 crore in Malappuram

Kondotty: Three individuals, including a former Panchayat president, were arrested for possessing snake venom worth Rs 2 crores. 

The arrested are Pradeep Nair (62), a Konni native, CPM leader T.P. Kumar (63), hailing from Pathanamthitta and former president of Aruvappulam Grama Panchayat, and a Kodungallur native Basheer (58). 

The accused were arrested from a lodge in Kondotty on Wednesday. The snake venom was found hidden inside a thermo flask. 

According to police, the accused arrived in Kondotty to sell the venom to a Malappuram native. Meanwhile, the police have also received information about the person who fetched the venom for the accused. 

The police team led by Kondotty ASP Vijay Bharath Reddy raided the hotel room and arrested the accused based on information received by District Police Chief Sujith Das. The accused would be thoroughly questioned before handing over to the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department.