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Maharashtra

Bombay HC acquits ex-DU professor, 5 others in Maoist links case

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In a significant development, the Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) on Friday acquitted former Delhi University professor G.N. Saibaba and five others in an alleged Maoist links and conspiracy case.

In their verdict, a division bench of Justices Rohit Deo and Anil Pansare acquitted Mahesh K. Tirki, Hem Keshawdatt Mishra, Prashant Rahi, Vijay Nan Tirki and Pandur Pora Narote who died in August this year.

Earlier, the court had allowed their appeals against conviction and life sentences awarded under the UAPA provisions.

Saibaba, who suffers from a polio-related paralysis and is bound to a wheelchair, had previously filed a plea seeking suspension of his sentence on medical grounds, saying he is also suffering from multiple ailments, but it was rejected.

Currently in Nagpur Central Jail, Saibaba is likely to be freed soon unless required in any other case.

All the accused, arrested in 2014, were tried under various sections of IPC and UAPA and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Gadchiroli Sessions Court in March 2017, for links with the banned Maoist groups, charges of waging war against the nation, conspiracy, among others.

Crime

DRI Nagpur seizes 3.01 kg of amphetamine drug worth Rs 2.4 crore, arrests two from bus

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The DRI arrested two drug traffickers from a bus and seized 3.01 kg of amphetamine drug having an illicit market value of nearly Rs 2.4 crore in Nagpur, an official said on Friday.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Nagpur Regional Unit of Mumbai Zone, claimed to have dismantled an inter-state drug trafficking syndicate through the operation.

The contraband was concealed in three ladies’ suits, which appeared to be unusually heavy, said the DRI Nagpur Regional Unit.

Acting on specific intelligence, officers of DRI Nagpur Regional Unit intercepted two passengers travelling by bus from Delhi to Bangalore, passing through Nagpur on October 28, 2026, on suspicion of carrying narcotic substances in their luggage, said a DRI statement.

The officers boarded the said bus at Bhagimari Toll Plaza on NH-47, Nagpur. They undertook a detailed examination of the passengers’ luggage, which revealed that three ladies’ suits appeared to be unusually heavy, it said.

On examination, white-coloured pouches concealed inside the suits were found to contain transparent polythene packets filled with a white crystalline substance, it said.

Field testing of representative samples, drawn separately from all three packets, gave a positive indication for the presence of amphetamine, the DRI said.

The three packets containing a total of 3.01 kg of amphetamine, with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 2.4 crore, were recovered from the two passengers and were subsequently seized under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, the DRI said.

The two passengers were arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985 and were produced before the JFMC at Nagpur on September 29.

These sustained efforts against organised narcotics trafficking networks operating across state borders reflect the steadfast commitment of DRI towards combating drug trafficking and contributing to the Government of India’s vision of a “Nasha Mukt Bharat”, said the statement.

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Crime

ED searches 11 premises in Mumbai, Surat linked to international drug traffickers

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized incriminating material and digital devices during searches across 11 premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) as well as Surat and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) linked to trace international drug trafficking network, an official said on Friday.

The ED’s Mumbai Zonal Office-L, conducted search operations on Wednesday, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against international narcotics syndicate led by Navin Chichkar, Dhiraj Chichkar, and their aides, the official said in a statement.

Searches were conducted to trace the modus through which drug sale proceeds received mainly in cash, infused in financial economy and further layered so as to project the same as legitimate income, the statement said.

The searches across 11 premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra), as well as Surat and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) were intended to trace the drug trafficking network and proceeds of crime (PoC) generated through the illicit drug trade acquired by a well-established international narcotics syndicate, it added.

The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of a complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai, under various provisions of the NDPS Act, following the seizure of substantial quantities of high-grade hydroponic cannabis (Ganja), cocaine and unaccounted cash in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai.

Navin Chichkar and others were allegedly involved in an established international network engaged in the sale of cocaine, hydroponic cannabis, LSD and cannabis edibles, largely sourced from outside India, the statement said.

During the searches, various incriminating material and digital devices, including high-end smartphones, laptops, and internal storage media, along with commercial books of accounts, financial ledgers, and investment records were seized, it added.

The searches revealed that proceeds generated from the sale of narcotic drugs were routed and cash was converted into foreign currencies, including US dollars and Thai Baht, which were subsequently made available to the accused, it said.

Moreover, proceeds of crime in cash were also invested in certain legitimate businesses so that the same is shown as untainted money, the statement said.

Searches were also conducted at the premises relating to “Crypto Trader(s)” which revealed details of certain “Crypto Wallets/Assets prima-facie linked to the proceeds of crime, the ED said.

It is gathered that the suspected persons was operating a number of Crypto trading accounts from outside India. The identified details are being examined to trace linked accounts, transaction histories, and to secure proceeds of crime, the ED said.

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Crime

Tiger Shroff firing case: 12th accused arrested from Sonipat, money trail under scanner

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The Mumbai Police have arrested another accused from Haryana’s Sonipat district in connection with the firing incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 12, including nine people from Sonipat.

The latest accused, identified as Amar, was arrested from Rohna village in Sonipat. The arrest has further strengthened the Sonipat connection in the case, with investigators examining financial transactions and links between the accused.

According to the investigation, Amar is a friend and neighbour of Kunal, who was arrested earlier in the case. Police investigations have revealed that Kunal allegedly transferred Rs 40,000 to Amar’s bank account.

Amar subsequently transferred Rs 12,000 to Radha’s bank account, another accused arrested earlier, allegedly on Kunal’s instructions.

The Mumbai Police are now investigating these financial transactions to establish the purpose of the transfers and determine the connections between the accused. The money trail is being examined as part of the wider investigation into the firing incident.

Amar, who studied up to Class 10, works at a supplements shop. His parents reportedly earn their livelihood through daily-wage labour.

Following his arrest, the Mumbai Police produced Amar before a court and are preparing to take him to Mumbai on transit remand for further investigation.

Meanwhile, Amar’s family has claimed that he is innocent and alleged that he has been falsely implicated in the case.

With nine of the 12 arrested accused reportedly belonging to Sonipat, the district has emerged as a key focus of the Mumbai Police investigation.

The police are examining the financial dealings and personal connections among the accused to establish the sequence of events and identify the roles played by individual suspects.

Meanwhile, encrypted messaging platforms Signal and Zangi were allegedly used by the accused to communicate. Police officials are facing significant challenges in decoding these digital exchanges, as tracing conversations conducted over the past eight months is considered crucial to uncovering the alleged conspiracy.

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