Elderly couple held for brewing illicit arrack in Ranipet

The Kalavai police arrested an elderly couple on Wednesday for brewing an illicit arrack in their house at Kuttiyam village near Arcot town in Ranipet.

Police said the arrested persons were identified as K. Duraisamy, 74, and his wife D. Valliammal, 65, are agricultural workers and have been living in a house in the village for many years. The couple was unable to get farm work due to old age. As the couple were battling poverty, they identified an abandoned hut near their house to brew illicit arrack for an income.

Residents alerted the Kalavai police, who inspected the house and seized raw materials and utensils used for it. The couple were lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. A case was registered and further probe is under way.