The group is believed to have made more than 100 fake e-passes for distribution in Vellore district.

The special team reached Tiruchy based on the confession by accused Jagadish Kumar arrested in a decoy operation in Vellore earlier. Police arrested Stalin (26) from Mutharasanallur and Vedivel (27) from Kottapattu in Tiruchy and remanded them.

According to police, the duo was working in a computer centre and later engaged in false ceiling works. Since the lockdown, both Stalin and Vedivel lost their jobs and later came into contact with their old friend Jagadish Kumar in Vellore, who asked them to make fake e-passes.

The accused from Vellore used to make the fake e-passes and both Stalin and Vadivel created the fake QR codes on the e-passes. The duo allegedly collected Rs 500 for each pass and had issued at least 100 fake e-passes. The police, meanwhile, have been collecting mobile numbers based on call history.

The police team are investigating whether the accused had any nexus with the officials, while indulging in such illegal activities.