Lucknow, Dec 20: Seven people who formed a red sandalwood smuggling gang taking inspiration from Allu Arjun movie 'Pushpa' were arrested from Mathura, sources from the Special Task Force (STF) said here on Tuesday.

Deepak alias Dalveer, Ajit Kumar Yadav, Sumit alias Ram, Chandra Pratap alias Babbu, Sumit Das, Jitendra, and Ranjit were arrested on a tip off from Highway Police Station on Monday, an STF release issued here said.

In the operation conducted jointly with a Forest department team, 563 kg red sandalwood worth about Rs 2 crore was recovered from them, they said.

The accused were in Mathura to sell the sandalwood, it said.

According to the STF, the accused confessed they took inspiration from 'Pushpa: The rise' and decided on making a quick buck stealing the expensive wood.

The gang kept the wood with one Rana, a resident of Delhi, who has a timber chamber licence.

They brought the red sandalwood illegally from Andhra Pradesh and sold it at religious places and nearby areas of Mathura, STF said.

An FIR has been registered against the seven men at Highway Police Station under relevant sections of IPC and other acts.

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Bhatkal: The Indian Nawayath Forum (INF) has announced the organization of the INF Trade Expo 2025, scheduled to take place from January 11 to 15, 2025, at NH 66, near the Ice Factory, opposite the Indian Oil Petrol Pump in Bhatkal. The announcement was made by Arshad Mohtisham, President of the Indian Nawayath Forum, during a press conference held at the INF office on Sunday, located opposite Kazia’s Bunglow.

Mohtisham stated that the expo aims to open new avenues for growth for traders and entrepreneurs, providing a platform for the empowerment of local businesses. The event is set to be a significant boost for the business sector in the region, much like the previous INF Trade Expo in 2022, which saw the participation of over 180 exhibitors and attracted a large number of visitors.

For the 2025 edition, Mohtisham shared that the expo will be bigger, better, and more effective, with more than 200 stalls expected to be set up and over 20,000 visitors anticipated. The expo will not only feature a wide range of local businesses but also offer workshops and networking opportunities designed to benefit entrepreneurs.

These sessions will include guidance on business registration, food industry regulations, packaging techniques, tips for starting up businesses on e-commerce platforms, inventory management, and billing technologies. The workshops will be conducted by chartered accountants and industry experts.

To reserve stalls, interested parties can either fill out the registration form or visit the INF office. For further information, individuals can contact the following numbers: 7022020454, 9353151493, or 9741803006.

The press conference was also attended by Majid Jukaku, Secretary and Convener of INF Trade Expo 2025, along with executive members Faizan Barmawar, Aftab Kola, Imtiaz Damda, Tanveer Motia, Qamar Uzzama Motia, and Harris Shabandari.