Konduskar has nexus with top state neta

Bus operator was linked to intl syndicates in Israel, Britain Russia

MANI Dalt39MELLO Mumbai Managing Director of Konduskar Travels Abhijit Konduskar who was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence ( DRI) for allegedly

manufacturing narcotics and trafficking to several European countries, on Thursday early morning is believed to close to a powerful politician from Western Maharashtra.

Konduskar who is also the Managing Director of the Sangli- based drug manufacturing firm Kumud Drug Private Limited was arrested along with his general manager Nilesh Mehta, employee Sandeep Ahire and the Indian agent of UKbased buyer, Sean Jayantilal Kothari, under the provisions of the NDPS Act.

According to DRI, Kumud Drugs is allegedly involved in illicit manufacture, diversion and export of Ketamine, a narcotic, and Mephedrone. During raids at the Kumud Drugs factory and Konduskaralt39s premises on Thursday, the DRI seized 1,021 kg illegally manufactured Ketamine, valued at Rs 1.02bn in the international market.

The Indian government controls the manufacture of Ketamine while Mephedrone is banned in other countries. Kumud Drugs has a licence to produce Ketamine, but Konduskar increased the production to supply to overseas markets. The company reportedly also smuggled Mephedrone to countries where the drug is banned.

DRI sources revealed that boxes enclosing 200 kgs of Ketamine were seized from an Andheri bound Tata Sumo on Wednesday, last.

Following the seizure in Mumbai, a team of DRI officials raided the Kumud Drug factory at Islampur in Sangli district and seized another 32 drums containing Ketamine.

It is learnt from reliable sources that Konduskaralt39s connections with a political heavy weight in Maharashtra, who calls the shots in western Maharashtra, had provided him unofficial immunity against enforcement agencies busting the racket.

Konduskar who had established a well- knit road travel route between Goa and Mumbai and parts of western Maharashtra, in the last 5 years, facilitated in his establishing alleged links between the Israeli, British and Russian mafia narcotic syndicates operating out of Goa and Gokaran in Karwar district of Karnatak.

DRI sources revealed that a Banrdra- based hawala operator Amrut Solanki with whom he established a link through a close aide and money launder, M Thakur of Bandra, would channelize the drug tainted remittance through the hawala route.

It is believed that Thakuralt39s close association with key political leaders in power at the state and Centre had built high levels of confidence in Konduskaralt39s mind that drug enforcement agencies would not lay their hands on him.