Man held for spreading fake video of selling illicit arrack in unlicensed bar

Salem: A 44-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday for spreading a fake video on social media, alleging that illegal arrack was being sold in an unlicensed bar at Attur near Salem
Attur rural police inspector Poornima said the viral video claimed G Jothi Velu, 45, from Attur, was running an unlicensed bar. K Ravi, 44, who also owns an unlicenced bar, entered Jothi Velu's establishment and filmed the supposed sale of illicit arrack. Later, Ravi uploaded the video on social media.
"We began our investigation after the video went viral on social media and arrested Ravi," the inspector stated.
Police investigation revealed that Ravi travelled to Kallakurichi, purchased illicit arrack packets, and placed them in Jothi Velu's illegal bar before filming.
Police are on the lookout for Ravi's son R Saran, 20, and his friends Elango Mannan, 45, and Vinoth, 42, who were also involved in filming the video.
Meanwhile, PEW officials arrested Jothi Velu with his two employees, Suresh, 42, and Sakthivel, 46, for illegally running the bar at Valayamadevi.
The arrested were lodged at the Salem Central Prison under judicial custody.