The Anti-Narcotics Cell of Navi Mumbai police has seized its largest cache of ganja after a three-month-long undercover operation.
In January, Police Sub Inspector Rani Kale received a tip-off on Mahesh Ravindra Vhatkar (35), a general store owner in Solapur who supplied ganja. Mr. Vhatkar was in possession of a huge quantity of ganja and was on the lookout for a client.
Ms. Kale said, “I kept a close watch on Mr. Vhatkar from then on. He recently visited Navi Mumbai thrice and I noted down the registration number of his car.”
Ms. Kale received information that Mr. Vhatkar found a buyer in Raigad. A team from the Anti-Narcotics Cell was alerted and a trap was laid on Wednesday.
Ms. Kale said the team was asked to hide in the bushes opposite Nisarga Nursery on Mumbai-Goa Highway. Ms. Kale said, “We chose the spot as the tempo would have to take a turn there. We waited from 12.30 a.m. to 2.30 a.m. ”
When the tempo arrived and slowed down near the turn, Senior Police Inspector Sunil Bajare, who was dressed in plain clothes, emerged from the bushes, flagged the vehicle down and asked for a lift. Ms. Kale said, “When the tempo stopped, Mr. Bajare asked the occupants for directions to an address. Our team arrested the duo and seized ganja worth ₹56.55 lakh.”
The police said Mr. Vhatkar had hired the services of a farmer, Santaji Mhalhari Kharat (36), to drive the tempo from Solapur to Raigad. Mr. Vhatkar drove his car and escorted the tempo. On reaching Kalamboli Circle, he parked the car and drove the tempo. The police have seized both vehicles.
The duo was charged under Sections of 8 (C), 20 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. They were produced in a court in Panvel on Wednesday and remanded in police custody till March 27.
Mr. Vhatkar is suspected to have procured the ganja from Telangana or Vishakapatnam.
