Officials, including Inspector of Food cell Rajesh Kannan, Tahsildhar Santha, Deputy Tahsildhar Venkatachalam and the Village Administrative Officer, had raided the godown around mid-night last night but later found themselves locked up inside, police said.
Investigation revealed that the licence had not been granted for storing the cylinders in the private godown.
The officials seized the cylinders and the equipment and arrested owner Raja Narasimhan.
It was not known who locked the gate, police said, adding, a case has been registered and search on for the culprits who locked it.