Latest news with #COTPA
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Pune studio suite drug bust: Cocaine, booze and political links in high-profile party circuit; how police caught Eknath Khadse's son-in-law, bizman, builder
Eknath Khadse (File Photo) PUNE: Former state minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar and six others, including two women, were arrested after a Pune police team claimed to have busted a house party early on Sunday in a Kharadi studio flat off Pune-Ahmednagar highway where cocaine, marijuana and hookah pots were used along with liquor consumption. Police later took Khewalkar, an MD (medicine) and the husband of Rohini Khadse, who heads the NCP (SP)'s state women's wing, and others to Sassoon hospital for medical tests and then to his bungalow in Hadapsar where searches were carried out as part of an investigation to trace the source of the drugs. "A laptop, three pen drives and a hard disk were among the articles seized from the bungalow," a police officer said. Khewalkar and the others were produced before judicial magistrate first class N S Bari who ordered their custodial remand until Tuesday. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Police chief says his team acted on tip-off, seized cocaine & marijuana Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar told TOI, "Our crime branch team reached the flat following a tip and detained 7 individuals, including Khewalkar, who were found partying there. The team seized cocaine (2.5g), marijuana (70g), hookah flavours and liquor bottles." DCP (crime) Manoj Pingale said, "The seized drugs, hookah pots and flavours will be sent to forensic laboratory." Police identified the other individuals as Nikhil Poptani (35), a cigarette trader from Hadapsar, Sameer Sayyed (41), a hardware businessman from NIBM Road, Shripad Yadav (27), a builder from Akurdi, Sachin Bhombe (42) of Wagholi, Isha Singh (22) of Aundh and Prachi Sharma (23) of Mhalunge," Pingale said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Casa Maquista chefs explore turmeric's essence in Macanese cuisine. MGTO Undo He added that Khewalkar has a practice in Jalgaon and stays in Hadapsar. A case for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) has been registered with the Kharadi police. Pingale said, "Khewalkar booked three suites in the studio apartment for three days between Friday and Sunday. He paid for them. Three other women were to arrive at the flat but walked away when the police action began. The men and the women know each other through a party circle. " Sassoon General Hospital's medical superintendent Dr Yallapa Jadhav said, "Two women and five men, were brought to the hospital's casualty on Sunday at 6.15am for medical examination and sample for alcohol and drugs consumption. Two had consumed alcohol according to the primary examination by the CMO. Blood and urine samples were collected from all and sealed and handed over to the police." On Sunday, when TOI visited the apartment, the staff members said the two four-storey buildings have 34 suites. The rooms are available from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,500, inclusive of breakfast and dinner. " We rent rooms after taking photocopies of people's ID cards," a staffer said. In court, prosecutor Priyanka Vengurlekar submitted that police needed seven days of custody to investigate the source of the drugs and to ascertain if an organized gang was involved and if the accused have links to any inter-state drug network. "Two of the accused arrested are habitual offenders as they have cases registered against them in the past" she added. Khewalkar's lawyer Vijaysingh Thombare submitted that the arrest was politically motivated. "There were previous attempts by police in civil clothes to trap my client at two locations, and CCTV footage supports this claim," he said. Lawyer Abid Mulani, representing two other accused, submitted, "Police failed to provide the grounds of arrest to the accused at the time of detention in direct violation of Section 50 of the CrPC, which mandates that the arrested persons be informed of the grounds in such an arrest." Lawyer Sachin Zalte, appearing for Yadav, submitted that police have failed to mention in their arrest report the quantity of cocaine seized. The omission is crucial, as possession of less than two grams qualifies as a bailable offence. The court said the allegations of illegal arrest can be taken up in subsequent hearings.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Ex-Maharashtra mantri kin, 6 others held in Pune drug party bust
PUNE: Former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar and six others were arrested early Sunday after a police team raided a studio apartment at Kharadi suburb in eastern Pune and allegedly seized cocaine, marijuana, hookah pots, and liquor during an alleged house party. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Khewalkar, who describes himself as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and doctor on his social media profile, is the husband of Rohini Khadse - head of NCP (Sharad Pawar)'s state women's wing. He was taken to Sassoon general hospital for a medical exam along with the others before police searched his Hadapsar bungalow, also in Pune. Officers seized a laptop, three pen drives, and a hard disk from the premises. "Our crime branch team reached the flat following a tip-off and detained seven people, including Khewalkar," police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said. "They were found partying. Cocaine (2.5g), marijuana (70g), hookah flavours, and multiple liquor bottles were seized." Khewalkar had booked three suites in the studio apartment for three days, police said. "He paid for the rooms. Three other women were supposed to join but left when the raid began," said DCP (crime) Manoj Pingale. "The group knows each other from a party circle." The others arrested include Nikhil Poptani (35), a cigarette trader from Hadapsar; Sameer Sayyed (41), a hardware dealer from NIBM Road; Shripad Yadav (27), a builder from Akurdi; Sachin Bhombe (42) of Wagholi; Isha Singh (22) of Aundh; and Prachi Sharma (23) of Mhalunge. A case has been registered under NDPS Act and Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) at Kharadi police station. The court of judicial magistrate first class NS Bari granted police custody of all seven until Tuesday. Sassoon hospital medical superintendent Dr Yallapa Jadhav said two of the seven had alcohol. "All were brought at 6.15am for medical exam. Blood and urine samples have been sealed and handed to police." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At the apartment complex - comprising two four-storey buildings with 34 suites off Pune-Ahmednagar highway - staff told TOI that rooms rent for Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,500, including meals. "We ask for ID photocopies from all guests," one employee said. Prosecutor Priyanka Vengurlekar said in court that police need more time to track the drug source and investigate possible links to an inter-state narcotics network. "Two of the accused are habitual offenders with prior cases," she alleged. Khewalkar's lawyer Vijaysingh Thombare alleged political targeting. "There were attempts to trap my client earlier at two locations, and CCTV footage supports this." Advocate Abid Mulani, representing two accused, claimed procedural lapses. "Police didn't inform them of the arrest grounds, violating Section 50 of CrPC." Lawyer Sachin Zalte, appearing for Yadav, said police failed to specify the amount of cocaine seized from each accused. "Possession below two grams is a bailable offence under law." The court said these allegations could be taken up in future hearings.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Ex-min Eknath Khadse's son-in-law among 7 held after drugs & liquor seized in party at Pune flat
Pune: Former state minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar and six others, including two women, were arrested after a Pune police team claimed to have busted a house party early on Sunday in a Kharadi studio flat off Pune-Ahmednagar highway where cocaine, marijuana and hookah pots were used along with liquor consumption. Police later took Khewalkar, who is an MD (medicine) and the husband of Rohini Khadse, who heads the NCP (SP)'s state women's wing, and others to Sassoon General Hospital for medical tests and then to his bungalow in Hadapsar where searches were carried out as part of an investigation to trace the source of the drugs. "A laptop, three pen drives and a hard disk were among the articles seized from the bungalow," a police officer said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Khewalkar and the others were produced before judicial magistrate first class N S Bari who ordered their custodial remand until Tuesday. Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar told TOI, "Our crime branch team reached the flat following a tip-off and detained seven individuals, including Khewalkar, who were found partying there. The team seized cocaine (2.5g), marijuana (70g), hookah flavours and many liquor bottles." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Was Everyone's Dream Girl In 90's, This Is Her Now The Noodle Box Undo Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Manoj Pingale said, "The seized drugs, hookah pots and flavours will be sent to forensic laboratory for further examination." Police identified the other individuals as Nikhil Poptani (35), a cigarette trader from Hadapsar, Sameer Sayyed (41), a hardware businessman from NIBM Road, Shripad Yadav (27), a builder from Akurdi, Sachin Bhombe (42) of Wagholi, Isha Singh (22) of Aundh and Prachi Sharma (23) of Mhalunge," deputy commissioner of police (crime) Nikhil Pingale said. He added that Khewalkar has a practice in Jalgaon and stays in Hadapsar. A case for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) has been registered with the Kharadi police. Pingale said, "Khewalkar booked three suites in the studio apartment for three days between Friday and Sunday. He paid for them. Three other women were to arrive at the flat but walked away when the police action began. The men and the women know each other through a party circle." Sassoon General Hospital's medical superintendent Dr Yallapa Jadhav said, "Seven people, two women and five men, were brought to the hospital's casualty on Sunday at 6.15am for medical examination and sample for alcohol and drugs consumption. Two had consumed alcohol according to the primary examination by the CMO. Blood and urine samples were collected from all and sealed and handed over to the police." On Sunday afternoon, when TOI visited the apartment, the staff members said the two four-storey buildings have 34 suites. The rooms are available from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,500, inclusive of breakfast and dinner. "Many people visit the apartment daily, and we give them rooms after taking photocopies of their ID cards," a staffer said. In court, prosecutor Priyanka Vengurlekar submitted that police needed seven days of custody to investigate the source of the drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, and to ascertain if an organized gang was involved in the illegal sale of banned substances and if the accused have links to any inter-state drug network. "Two of the accused arrested are habitual offenders as they have cases registered against them in the past" she added. Khewalkar's lawyer Vijaysingh Thombare submitted that the arrest was politically motivated. "There were previous attempts by the police in civil clothes to trap my client at two different locations, and CCTV footage from both sites supports this claim," he said. Lawyer Abid Mulani, representing two other accused, submitted, "Police failed to provide the grounds of arrest to the accused at the time of their detention which is in direct violation of Section 50 of the CrPC, which mandates that the arrested persons be informed of the grounds in such an arrest." Lawyer Sachin Zalte, appearing for co-accused Shripad Yadav, submitted that police have failed to mention in their arrest report the quantity of cocaine seized from the accused. The omission is crucial, as possession of less than two grams qualifies as a bailable offence under the current law. The court, while granting two-day custody, said the allegations of illegal arrest can be taken up in subsequent hearings.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Step up surveillance to curb drug trafficking: Sri Sathya Sai Collector
Collector T.S. Chetan informed the enforcement officials to step up surveillance to curb drug trafficking across Sri Sathya Sai district. Addressing a review meeting along with Superintendent of Police (SP) V. Ratna at the Collectorate here on Wednesday, the Collector said that the supply networks which target students and workers in the transport sector must be identified and eliminated through joint operations of the line departments. 'We need uninterrupted vigil against narcotics. Offenders will not be spared, and they will invite serious action through the NDPS Act, 1988. Their properties acquired through drug trade would be confiscated, and will attract financial probes,' the Collector warned. Mr. Chetan said that the role of the Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) teams pressed into action by the State government had started giving positive results in the fight against drugs. 'All the educational institutions are informed to form EAGLE clubs and display anti-drug posters on the campuses. Sale of tobacco products in the vicinity of the institutions will be dealt with severe action under the COTPA provisions,' the Collector said. He also urged the public to coordinate with the police by informing any suspicious activity on the toll-free number 1972. SP Ratna said that joint operations by the Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), local police and the EAGLE teams were being taken up vigorously all over the district. Surprise checks would be conducted in government and private hostels as part of initiatives to curb drug abuse.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Meghalaya cracks whip on smoking in public
Shillong: In a bid to protect public health and reduce tobacco use, the East Khasi Hills District Police have stepped up enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, targeting smoking in public places and illegal tobacco sales near schools and colleges. The Cantonment Beat House and Lumdiengjri Police Station in the state capital have led the charge, booking the highest number of violators under this initiative. "Enforcement is being carried out under every police station, outpost, and beat house across the district," a senior police official said. The district-wide action is part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), implemented by the health and family welfare department under the National Health Mission (NHM), Meghalaya. "This campaign is not just about fines. It's about changing behaviour and protecting children, elders, and non-smokers from passive smoke. Our goal is a tobacco-free Meghalaya," the police official pointed out, adding that the initiative has received public support. Reacting to the drive against public smoking, a student of the St Anthony's College remarked: "There are kids and elderly who suffer due to smoke. Meghalaya Police are doing a great job saving lives". Dr Nabneeta D Mawrie, NTCP state nodal officer, said, "Tobacco causes 40% of all cancers and 90% of oral cancer. Eliminating it can save countless lives. We appreciate the police's active role".
