Habitual offender involved in drug racket in Navi Mumbai detained under PIT NDPS Act, lodged at Yerwada Jail in Pune for one year

Navi Mumbai: A habitual offender identified as Rajan Bala Rathod, a resident of Mankhurd, was detained by Navi Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) on Wed, May 27, under Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PIT NDPS) Act and was lodged at Yerwada Jail, Pune, for one year.

Sandeep Nigade, senior inspector of ANC, informed that the accused Rajan Rathod was previously arrested in Oct last year in Kalamboli because he was found in possession of 1,800 gm of ganja (opium) and 15 gm of heroin collectively worth around Rs 10 lakh. Rathod was in jail custody at Taloja prison for five months and was released on bail in March this year.

Nigade said, "The accused Rathod was a habitual offender as four FIRs under NDPS Act were registered against him at different police stations in Navi Mumbai. Also, there are five FIRs under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections registered against him for criminal offences of attempt to murder, dacoity and fracas. Rathod used to procure drugs from suppliers in Mumbai and sell the contraband in Navi Mumbai. Hence, a proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mumbai, seeking to arrest the accused Rathod under the provisions of PIT NDPS Act. Subsequently, the proposal was approved and Rathod was arrested on May 27. Thereafter, he was lodged at Yerwada Jail, Pune, for a period of one year."