Police in Pune have taken a young man into custody for allegedly selling a form of cannabis known as 'Banta Goli'. The arrest followed a coordinated raid that uncovered a large quantity of the illegal substance.
Details of the Arrest and Raid
Officers from the local crime branch and Ranjangaon police station conducted the operation on January 10. They targeted the suspect's residence in the Ranjangaon MIDC area, as well as a nearby paan shop close to the government hospital.
The accused individual is Vipul Sandip Vitkar, a 20-year-old resident of Ranjangaon village in Shirur taluka, Pune district. Authorities identified him during their investigation into the drug trade.
Significant Seizure of Contraband
During the raid, police confiscated approximately 203.6 kilograms of 'Banta Goli'. This chewy cannabis product had an estimated street value of Rs 57,300. The seizure represents a major blow to local drug distribution networks.
Police Sub-Inspector Avinash Thorat, who is leading the investigation, provided details about the case. He explained that 'Banta Goli' is manufactured from ganja, which falls under the banned substances list in the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
An FIR has been registered against Vitkar at the Ranjangaon police station. The charges include multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions from the NDPS Act and the Food Security Act.
The court produced the accused on January 11. Judicial authorities remanded him to police custody for two days to facilitate further questioning and investigation.
Investigation Findings
During police interrogation, Vitkar reportedly disclosed that he obtained the seized cannabis balls from a company based in Karnataka several months earlier. This revelation has opened new avenues for the ongoing probe.
Thorat stated that preliminary investigations suggest the accused had been selling 'Banta Goli' for the past couple of years. Despite this alleged involvement in drug sales, police records indicate Vitkar had no previous criminal history before this incident.
Authorities continue their investigation to uncover additional details about the supply chain and potential accomplices. The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.
