Mumbai, 18th Oct 2023: In a significant development, the magistrate court in Mumbai has ruled to place Lalit Patil, the accused in a drug case who had previously escaped from Sassoon General Hospital in Pune, into the custody of the Mumbai Police until October 23. Patil was apprehended by a Mumbai Police team at a hotel located between Bengaluru and Chennai.
The Backstory
Lalit Patil had been in custody at the Yerawada Central Jail due to his involvement in a drug-related case. However, he was later transferred to Sassoon General Hospital for medical treatment. It was during his stay at the hospital that he managed to escape on October 2. This incident occurred just a day after the Pune City police arrested an individual in possession of Mephedrone near the hospital premises, subsequently leading to the arrest of a canteen staffer. During the ongoing investigation, Lalit Patil’s name emerged as a key figure in the case. However, before authorities could delve deeper into the matter, he escaped from custody.
A Joint Effort
The Mumbai Police had previously conducted a raid on a factory in Nashik believed to be involved in the manufacturing of drugs. This operation revealed connections to Lalit Patil and his brother Bhushan Patil. Both the Mumbai Police and Pune Police had been diligently searching for Lalit Patil, given the importance of his involvement in the case.
A State Investigation
In response to this high-profile escape, the state government has taken action by establishing a four-member committee to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding Lalit Patil’s evasion from Sassoon Hospital.
This recent development signifies a significant step in ensuring that Lalit Patil remains in custody and continues to be investigated for his alleged role in the drug case.
