Mumbai, The Mumbai Crime Branch has filed an application in a special NDPS court seeking custody of Salim Dola, a close associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, officials said on Tuesday.

Dola is currently in the custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) until May 8, where he is being interrogated in connection with drug-related cases.

The Mumbai Crime Branch will be able to take him into custody only after the court grants approval and his present remand with the NCB concludes.

By filing this application, the Crime Branch has requested the court to issue a production warrant, thereby enabling them to take Dola into their custody once his remand with the NCB expires.

As per legal protocol, the Crime Branch is required to first demonstrate to the court why the accused’s custody is deemed necessary. If the court determines that interrogation regarding other cases is warranted, it issues a production warrant, following which the concerned agency may take the accused into its custody.

The Crime Branch intends to seek consecutive custody of Dola for various cases, including in chronological order the Sangli drugs case, the Mysuru drugs case, and the Telangana drugs case, among several others.

According to the Mumbai Crime Branch, Salim Dola has been a pivotal figure within several major drug trafficking networks.

Investigations have revealed his suspected involvement in the drug manufacturing cases uncovered in Sangli, Mysuru, and Telangana. Furthermore, his name also surfaced in connection with the seizure of 4 kilograms of MD drugs in 2024.

The Crime Branch believes that the interrogation of Dola could lead to the dismantling of a major drug syndicate.

The final decision regarding this matter now rests with the NDPS court.

Dola, 59, a resident of Mumbai, was the subject of an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued at India’s request in March 2024. He was wanted for prosecution in multiple narcotics trafficking cases and had been absconding from Indian law enforcement agencies for several years.

Dola’s two-decade-long criminal record includes direct involvement in high-value seizures of heroin, charas, mephedrone, Mandrax, and methamphetamine in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Investigations consistently identified Dola as a bulk supplier to downstream drug distribution networks in India. He was also wanted by the Gujarat ATS and the Mumbai Police.

Earlier, his son, Taher Salim Dola, along with other associates, was arrested by Mumbai Police after extradition from the UAE in 2025.

A shocking incident has emerged from Mumbai, creating panic among patients and their relatives within a hospital premises.

According to reports, a man was seen standing outside the Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital) with a knife lodged in his head. The horrifying sight caused chaos and fear among those present at the scene.

Eyewitnesses stated that the man was critically injured but did not receive immediate emergency medical attention for some time. Allegedly, he had come to the hospital seeking treatment, but no doctor attended to him promptly as an emergency case, and he was reportedly ignored.

After the incident was reported, hospital authorities and the police arrived at the spot. The injured man was later admitted to the ICU, where his condition remains critical, and doctors are making efforts to save his life.

This incident has raised serious questions about the functioning of the hospital administration. Patients and their families have alleged that if timely treatment had been provided, the situation might not have become so severe.

Pune: Police on Sunday issued a clarification over the use of force during a protest linked to the Nasrapur assault case, where a four-year-old was raped and murdered. Officials said a “mild lathi-charge” was carried out to disperse a crowd after a key highway remained blocked for hours, causing severe disruption.

The protest took place on Saturday evening at the Navale Bridge on the Katraj Dehu-Road bypass section of Mumbai–Bengaluru National Highway. According to police, the road remained blocked for nearly four hours, leading to a massive traffic jam stretching up to 15 kilometres on both sides. Thousands of commuters, including women and children, were stranded. Ambulances were also caught in the congestion.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Sambhaji Kadam said the police had been in constant touch with the victim’s family throughout the day. The family had been given a written assurance by the administration and wanted to end the protest, as they were exhausted.

Senior officials, including Pune City Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar, spoke to protesters multiple times. However, some individuals refused to withdraw and continued blocking the road. Police said the victim’s family was safely escorted from the site, and the girl’s body was later transported in an ambulance under police protection for the last rites.

Despite repeated appeals, a section of protesters remained adamant. Police then used mild force to clear the road and restore traffic movement. Officials stressed that the action was taken with restraint and only after prolonged efforts to resolve the situation peacefully.

A video showing the lathi-charge had circulated widely on social media, prompting criticism and raising questions over police action. In response, authorities released a detailed statement explaining the sequence of events.

Police also said the Nasrapur case is highly sensitive and is being investigated by the Pune Rural Police Force. They assured us that efforts are being made to ensure strict punishment for the accused. The victim’s family has been kept informed during the investigation.

The police appealed to citizens to remain calm and trust the legal process. They said maintaining law and order, while ensuring justice for the victim, remains their priority.