Mumbai: In a major update to the Rs 434-crore inter-state drug bust, Mumbai’s Sakinaka Police have uncovered the modus operandi of the gangs involved, a unique ‘shirt photo’ code used to smuggle mephedrone (MD) between cities.

Quoting police, two separate gangs worked in tandem to shift the contraband from a drug manufacturing unit in Karnataka’s Mysuru to Mumbai. One gang would deliver the consignment to Bengaluru.

The other, unconnected directly, would pick it up using a WhatsApp image of a shirt as a covert identification signal. This photograph-based code was used to avoid verbal communication and detection. The drugs were then transported to Mumbai via road routes.

This new revelation comes days after a godown was raided in Powai on July 30, where police seized 21.9 kg of MD and chemicals worth Rs 44 crore from Shop No. 9, Prathmesh Galaxy, near Hiranandani in Powai. The accused had disguised the facility as a colour distribution unit on the ground floor of a residential building.

“We were able to trace the Powai godown based on interrogation. The accused had told neighbouring shopkeepers and building members that they were running a colour distribution business. Under that guise, they were storing drugs, chemicals, and equipment,” said Investigating Officer Dayanand Walave. Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Nalawade said further arrests are likely as more names have surfaced during interrogation.

The bust is a continuation of a larger probe that began on April 24 this year, when Sadiq Shaikh (27) was arrested in Sakinaka with 52 grams of MD. That arrest triggered a chain reaction, leading to multiple raids and arrests across Mumbai, Gujarat and Karnataka.

Eventually, on July 26, police raided a large-scale MD manufacturing unit near Belavatha in Mysuru and seized 214 kg of MD, precursor chemicals, and lab equipment worth Rs 390 crore. This included an additional 4.5 kg of MD recovered from Kaman village, Vasai.

So far, eight individuals have been arrested, four from the Mumbai-Gujarat-Mysuru link and four directly associated with the Mysuru factory. Police say three of the arrested have past criminal records, with one facing as many as 16 cases under the NDPS Act and for assault.

Thane: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane granted Rs 49.46 lakh to the parents of 24-year-old IT engineer Swapnil Suresh Gulvi, who lost his life in a road accident in 2019. The tribunal, chaired by member RV Mohite, assigned 75% of the blame to the truck driver and 25% to Gulvi for contributory negligence.

Gulvi was on his motorcycle on Ghodbunder Road when he tried to pass a bus close to a bus stop. The bus driver reportedly stopped abruptly, leading Gulvi to crash into the bus and later be struck by a truck. The tribunal determined there was no evidence of negligence from the bus driver, indicating that both the deceased and the truck driver did not keep a safe distance, resulting in the collision.

The truck was considered to be going too fast. The overall compensation was determined to be Rs 65,94,700, considering future income loss and emotional distress damages. Following the 25% deduction for Gulvi’s contributory negligence, the granted sum was established at Rs 49,46,025.

The tribunal instructed the truck owner and its insurer to compensate the claimants jointly and severally, with an yearly interest of 9% starting from the petition date.

Similar Incident

The Thane Motor Accident Claim Tribunal has ordered Oriental Insurance Company Limited and a Nagpur-based company to pay ₹29,86,000 in compensation to the family of Dyaneshwar Gawade, a 21-year-old employee of Wellness Forever, who died in a 2020 road accident.

The Tribunal found that Gawade’s non-wearing of a helmet did not contribute to the accident. It concluded there was no negligence on his part as police records showed no fault from the deceased. The container that struck his motorcycle was driven recklessly, establishing the driver’s negligence. Gawade, the sole earner in his family, had a monthly salary of ₹22,036. The Tribunal rejected the respondents’ claims that Gawade was liable, and mandated compensation, with ₹25 lakhs to be fixed for five years and the rest paid as interest.

Mumbai: As Ashray Yojana, the housing project for the BMC’s conservancy staff, continues to be stuck in limbo, former BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar has urged the civic body to expedite works else he will be “compelled” to take legal recourse.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the project, located at Cochin Street in Fort, was conducted in October 2024. Estimated at a cost of Rs17 crore, the plan envisages 54 houses, each measuring 238 sq ft. However, even 10 months after the ceremony, no construction work has begun.

Former BJP Corporator Makarand Narwekar’s Letter To Civic Chief Bhushan Gagrani

In a letter to civic chief Bhushan Gagrani, Narwekar said, “If immediate steps are not taken to commence the project on a war-footing, we will be compelled to raise this matter vigorously across all appropriate platforms, including the courts.” He pointed out that beyond their vital role in keeping Mumbai clean, the conservancy staff also play an important part in initiatives like deep clean drives.

“It is deeply disheartening that the project is yet to commence. There is a growing perception that projects only gain momentum before elections to secure votes,” said Narwekar.

He added, “The work has been sanctioned for the redevelopment of buildings 1 and 2. However, the silence and inaction following the tender process indicate a lack of seriousness from the departments concerned.”

Such negligence sends a dangerous message that the welfare of conservancy workers is not a priority for the BMC, Narwekar asserted. He urged the BMC to address the issue with urgency or face legal consequences. Kiran Dighavkar, deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management), was not available for comment.