In a shocking revelation from Pune, investigations have uncovered that the Alprazolam drugs seized from five arrested men, including a police constable, were stolen from the centralised storeroom (muddemal room) of the Ahilyanagar police in December last year. This incident highlights a serious breach of security within law enforcement agencies.
Details of the Drug Theft and Arrests
Superintendent of Police (SP) for Pune Rural, Sandeep Singh Gill, stated on Tuesday that the Ahilyanagar police had conducted a raid in Shrirampur, Ahilyanagar district, in May last year, seizing a large quantity of Alprazolam drugs. These seized drugs were under court custody but remained stored in the muddemal room at the Ahilyanagar police headquarters. According to SP Gill, the arrested police constable confessed to stealing the drugs from this room in December.
Arrests and Case Registration
The Pune Rural police have arrested five individuals since January 18, following the seizure of 10.7kg of drugs on the Pune-Nagar highway in Shirur. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Shirur police station. The arrested include police constable Shyam Gujar, who was attached to the crime branch of the Ahilyanagar police.
Other individuals arrested in connection with this case are Shadab Riaz Shaikh from Shirur, Dnyandev Shinde and Hrushikesh Chitar from Parner in Ahilyanagar district, and Mahesh Gaikwad from Shrigonda, also in Ahilyanagar district. SP Gill emphasized that the constable broke the seal of the seized drugs to carry out the theft.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
SP Gill mentioned that the Pune Rural police have written a letter to the Ahilyanagar police, informing them about the seizure of Alprazolam and detailing how it was stolen from the muddemal room. This communication aims to ensure accountability and prevent such incidents in the future.
Motivation and Further Probe
When questioned about the potential involvement of other police personnel from Ahilyanagar district, SP Gill stated that the investigation is still ongoing. He clarified that the arrested constable and his accomplices were primarily motivated by financial gain, seeking to sell the Alprazolam illegally for personal profit. This case underscores the challenges in safeguarding seized contraband and the need for stricter protocols within police departments.
