In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing mephedrone smuggling case, involving Lalit Patil and his associates, critical electronic evidence, including pen drives and mobile phones, has been confiscated during raids at the suspects’ residences. Patil, believed to be the mastermind behind the illicit operation, is currently evading law enforcement.
The police have escalated their efforts to accumulate evidence against the accused, suspected of orchestrating the sale of mephedrone from Nashik’s Sassoon Hospital. Two of Patil’s alleged accomplices, Subhash Mandal (29 years old, a resident of Dehu Road with roots in Jharkhand) and Rauf Rahim Shaikh (19 years old, residing on Tadiwala Road and employed at the hospital’s canteen), were apprehended for their involvement in the drug trade. The estimated value of the seized mephedrone stands at a staggering Rs 2 crore.
Furthermore, Datta Doke, Patil’s driver, who is accused of aiding his escape, has also been captured by law enforcement.
During Lalit Patil’s admission to Sassoon Hospital, two mobile phones were discovered in his possession. However, Patil has adamantly refused to disclose the passwords required to unlock these devices. Despite efforts by experts, the passwords remain elusive. Authorities have even reached out to Apple Company for assistance in unlocking the mobile phones, as detailed in the remand presented in court.
The accused are now the subject of an intensive investigation into their purported involvement in the smuggling network. Public prosecutor Vaman Koli argued for an extension of police custody, emphasizing the necessity of a thorough investigation due to the gravity of the crime and the potential for the accused to cooperate against one another. However, the court has decided to remand both Mandal and Shaikh to judicial custody.
As the probe continues to unravel the details of this high-profile mephedrone smuggling case, the search for the primary accused, Lalit Patil, alongside Bhushan Subhash Patil and Abhishek Vilas Balkawade, remains ongoing.
