CHENNAI: A police team from Andhra Pradesh accompanied by the local police on Thursday apprehended Baskar, a relative of VK Sasikala -- close confidante of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa -- from his house at Anna Nagar for smuggling red sanders.
Baskar is the father-in-law of Vivek Jayaraman, son of Sasikala's brother Jayaraman. Police took him to Andhra Pradesh for further investigation.
Police said Baskar alias 'Kattai' Baskar has been facing about 28 smuggling cases in Andhra Pradesh.
Baskar opened a furniture shop in the city. After his daughter married Jayaraman's son Vivek, he moved away from the trade and assigned his business to his brother City Raja.
Raja was arrested for red sander smuggling and was later admitted at Government Stanley Hospital for his illness. He died in 2018. After his demise, Baskar again joined the illegal trade.
Baskar's son-in-law Vivek, son of Ilavarasi, who has been detained in Parappan Agrahara prison in Bengaluru along with Sasikala, after they were convicted in disproportionate assets case.