The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Crime Branch carried out a major operation on Sunday, arresting seven individuals linked to a Madhya Pradesh-based narcotics syndicate and recovering 503 grams of MD (methylenedioxy) worth Rs 90.6 lakh.
The operation took place on the Padegaon–Mitmita Road stretch, where police also seized a vehicle, seven mobile phones, and Rs 21,000 in cash. Commissioner of Police Pravin Pawar called it a “major breakthrough” in the city’s ongoing synthetic drug crackdown, highlighting that this is the largest MD haul in the city to date.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ratnakar Navale confirmed that the accused include three residents of Madhya Pradesh:
Arbaaz Zaheer Khan (33) of Dewas
Harsh Omprakash Sharma (24) of Indore
Anand Deolal Prajapati (24) of Dewas
The other four local recipients arrested were:
Sheikh Arbaaz Sheikh Indris (24) of Silkmill Colony
Nadeem Sheikh Aleem Sheikh (22) of Padegaon–Mitmita
Azhar Abubakar Sheikh (28) of Devgaon Rangari, Kannad
Faizan Mukhtar Sheikh (21) of Ansar Colony, Padegaon
Police received specific intelligence that Khan, Sharma, and Prajapati were transporting the MD in a car. Upon arrival at an open plot in Mitmita, the trio attempted to flee but were apprehended, and the MD was recovered from the vehicle. Mobile phone examination revealed that the consignment was to be distributed by Sheikh Arbaaz Idris to Nadeem Sheikh and Azhar alias Ajju, who were also arrested along with Faizan Mukhtar Sheikh.
The arrests mark a significant disruption of the local synthetic drug supply chain in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
