The police team also seized 1,300 gelatin sticks, 2,825 electric detonators, a Maruti Swift, Rs. 7,000 of cash, relevant records, and three cell phones from their possession.
The North Zone team of the Commissioner's Task Force on Sunday arrested two persons for illegal possession, transportation and sale of explosives.
The police team also seized 1,300 gelatin sticks, 2,825 electric detonators, a Maruti Swift, Rs. 7,000 of cash, relevant records, and three cell phones from their possession.
The arrested accused persons have been identified as Maddi Madhusudhan Reddy (33), a contractor of Ghatkesar, and Gandikota Ramesh (40) of Tukaram Gate.
According to the police, Madhusudhan Reddy obtained a license on the name of Mahalaxmi Enterprises, from the chief controller of explosives, in 2009. As per the license conditions, he was allowed to use the explosive to blast rocks with the help of shot firers, after taking permission from authorities. However, the police said that he was illegally selling the explosives by charging Rs. 7 extra on each gelatin stick and detonator.
Another accused, Ramesh, was also on a commission of Rs. 2 per gelatin stick and detonator, that he would get after introducing Madhusudhan Reddy to prospective buyers.
Further, the accused allegedly violated norms by transporting the explosives in a regular vehicle instead of a magazine vehicle. Any slight impact or pressure or electrical impulse would have caused a huge explosion on the road, the police said.
On Sunday, when Madhusudhan Reddy came to deliver the explosive material to Ramesh and others at a site near Nagarjuna Circle on Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, on a tip-off, the North Zone Task Force Team caught them red-handed, and seized the explosive material and his car.
Ramesh, who took delivery of 100 gelatin sticks and 525 detonators a few days ago, had hidden them underground wo feet deep in the earth, in a site beside Nagarjuna Circle, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills. These were unearthed and seized as well.
According to Additional DCP (Task Force) P Rameshaiah, Madhusudhan Reddy had manipulated records, and the details of purchase and use of explosives could not be tallied.
He said that the explosives were brought for illegal quarrying. A probe into the supply of explosive material to various persons by Madhusudhan Reddy is on, as there is a possibility of this material having reached anti-social elements, he added.
"Irrespective of the motive, we are treating the case very seriously, as such a huge quantity of the illegal consignment is a cause for concern," he said.
The Additional DCP said that a letter would be addressed to the chief controller of explosives, Nagpur, to cancel the license, since the accuded has been violating the conditions of the license.
The police have warned site owners and builders against violating procedures to obtain licenses or permissions from the authorities and encouraging the illegal purchase and sale of explosive material in order to save their time and to avoid government fees.
"Construction companies in the city must not resort to shortcuts by violating the norms of the Explosive Substances Act," Rameshaiah said.
The accused persons, along with the seized material, were handed over to Banjara Hills police station for further investigation. (INN)