Pune Drug Case: Smuggler Lalit Patil To Remain In Police Custody Till October 27, Orders Mumbai Court

Mumbai: The Andheri court has extended the police custody of drug manufacturer and trafficker Lalit Patil and three other accused until October 27. The Sakinaka police arrested them for allegedly operating a Mephedrone (MD) manufacturing unit in Nashik. Patil was arrested in Bangalore on October 17 and subsequently presented in the Andheri court a day later.

On Sunday morning, the police took Patil to a drug unit in his hometown of Shindewadi in Nashik to gather information. High levels of secrecy were maintained for the visit; even the local Nashik police were unaware.

Patil, a known figure in the trade of narcotics, hails from Nashik and allegedly used proceeds from sales to purchase gold and multiple properties. The police are gathering information on his assets and also want to unravel the extent of his operation and key players. Patil’s accomplices Sachin Wagh, Shivaji Shinde and Rohit Choudhary will also be questioned extensively.

Police To Probe In Hawala Angle

Wagh is said to have admitted to destroying a huge cache of drugs as per Patil’s instructions. The police want to ascertain if there is a hawala racket involved. They also intend to confront Patil with his brother Bhushan, who allegedly paid the rent for the Nashik unit to its owner using Gpay.

Meanwhile, Pune MLA Ravindra Dhangekar has alleged that there may be plans to kill Patil in an encounter. At a media interaction, Dhangekar claimed there is a delay in probe as cops and politicians are involved. He urged that the case be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department for an impartial inquiry. “Surprisingly, the Dean of Sassoon General Hospital has neither been named as an accused nor arrested,” he said.

With inputs from Ganwanti Paraste