On September 27, 2026, Head Constable Velmurugan clung to the roof of a speeding Hyundai Creta while the vehicle raced through Coimbatore’s streets, forcing it to stop after a 40‑kilometre pursuit. The chase began when a Karnataka‑registered car refused to halt at a tobacco‑smuggling checkpoint in Vilankurichi. Police later detained the three occupants and seized 200 kg of gutkha.
Earlier that day, a tip from an informant warned of 300 kg of gutkha hidden in the vehicle, prompting the checkpoint’s deployment.
A sub‑inspector chased the car on a motorcycle while Velmurugan’s grip on the roof kept the vehicle in reach; the chase was recorded by an ambulance camera and later went viral.
Senior Police Officer told NDTV that the suspects, hailing from Rajasthan and traveling from Karnataka, were detained and that the investigation into the smuggling ring has begun.
An investigation has been launched, and the suspects are under interrogation.