New Delhi, Dec 23: In a major boost to the Centre’s ‘Drug-Free India’ campaign, Delhi Police have arrested a female drug peddler in Nihal Vihar and recovered 341 grams of ganja along with Rs 3.72 lakh in cash, suspected to be proceeds from the sale of narcotics, officials said on Tuesday.

According to Delhi Police, the action was carried out by a patrolling team of Police Station Nihal Vihar on December 20, following specific directions from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Outer District, to maintain heightened vigilance against drug trafficking.

The team, comprising ASI Arvind, Woman Head Constable Yogita and Constable Sanjeet, was on routine patrol in the Adhyapak Nagar area when they noticed a suspicious woman standing near a house close to Pari Garden with a brown-coloured carry bag.

Police said that as soon as the woman noticed the patrol team, the crowd gathered around her dispersed, and she attempted to flee.

“On sensing the police staff, the crowd dispersed immediately, and the female carrying the brown-coloured carry bag also attempted to flee, but the vigilant team swiftly chased and apprehended her on the spot,” the police said in its press note.

Upon weighing, the contraband was found to be 341 grams of ganja. A total sum of Rs 3,72,830 was also recovered, which police believe to be proceeds from the illegal sale of narcotics.

The seized drugs and cash were confiscated on the spot following due legal procedures.

Subsequently, a case was registered at Police Station Nihal Vihar vide FIR No. 960/2025 under Section 20(b)(ii)A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused woman was formally arrested in the case.

Further verification revealed that the accused has a criminal history and was previously involved in more than five cases under the Delhi Excise Act, police said.

“The Outer District police remain committed to eliminating narcotics-related crimes and safeguarding the community,” said DCP Sachin Sharma.

Mumbai, Dec 22: The Agripada Police have registered a case of cheating and financial fraud against Ramesh Balu Waghchaure, 50, for allegedly duping Bhimsen Amrut Nikam, 58, a Mulund resident, of Rs 30.50 lakh by falsely promising a railway job and an SRA flat for Nikam’s son, Shubham.

In a shocking twist, the accused allegedly arranged his daughter’s marriage with the complainant’s son and assured that the money would be returned after the wedding, which never happened.

According to the FIR, Nikam currently resides with his family on Gokhale Road, Mulund (East), and had earlier lived at Rasool Jeeva Compound, Sane Guruji Marg, Saat Rasta, from 1994 to 2023. Nikam’s wife, Suman, 51, is originally from Sinnar, Nashik, and the accused Waghchaure, a resident of Pathardi Phata, Nashik, was her former classmate. The families became acquainted during a relative’s wedding in Nashik in December 2017.

After building close relations with the Nikam family, Waghchaure allegedly claimed he had strong contacts in government departments. When Shubham completed his engineering in 2017 and the family began searching for a job for him, the accused reportedly promised to secure him a post of Senior Section Engineer in the Railways. He even introduced a person identified as “Khan” and, in April 2018, collected Rs 7 lakh via RTGS for the job.

Despite repeated follow-ups till 2019, no job was provided. The accused allegedly handed over a fake railway appointment letter and later promised to return the money, which he failed to do.

Around the same time, the Nikam family was looking to purchase a house. Waghchaure then claimed he had links with an SRA project and could arrange a flat at a lower cost.

The accused allegedly took Rs 21.50 lakh in cash and Rs 1.85 lakh through NEFT for an SRA flat, claiming that construction work was underway at Kanjurmarg. However, no flat was allotted, nor was the money returned.

To further delay repayment, Waghchaure allegedly proposed that if his daughter married Shubham, the entire amount would be repaid after the wedding.

The marriage took place on December 25, 2023. However, instead of returning the money, the accused allegedly cited financial difficulties and even took an additional Rs 15,000 from Nikam in February 2024. In total, Waghchaure allegedly collected Rs 30.50 lakh under the pretext of securing a job and an SRA flat.

Realising that he had been cheated, Nikam approached the Agripada police station and lodged a complaint. Based on the complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and have initiated further investigation.

New Delhi, Dec 22: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the conviction of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate in the 1995 Nashik housing fraud case.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Maharashtra government on Kokate’s plea challenging the refusal of the Bombay High Court to stay his conviction. Though it protected his membership in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the apex court clarified that Kokate will not be allowed to exercise any governmental powers while the proceedings are pending.

“Issue notice. Meanwhile, the conviction of the petitioner shall remain stayed to the extent that there shall be no disqualification as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. However, no power shall be exercised by the petitioner,” the CJI Kant-led Bench ordered.

The relief from the top court comes days after the Bombay High Court had refused to stay Kokate’s conviction but suspended his two-year jail sentence and granted him protection from arrest as it heard his revision plea against the sessions court verdict.

Earlier, a Nashik sessions court had convicted Kokate in a case involving the illegal acquisition of government flats reserved under the Chief Minister’s quota and sentenced him to two years’ rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000.

Following the sessions court verdict, Kokate was stripped of the Sports and Minority Affairs portfolios, and he resigned from the Maharashtra Cabinet. His resignation was accepted by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar amid a chorus from the Opposition.

The case against Kokate and his brother Vijay Kokate dates back to 1995 and pertains to the alleged misappropriation of flats meant for low-income individuals who do not own any other property.

The prosecution alleged that the brothers submitted forged affidavits and documents to acquire flats in the Nirman View Apartment at Canada Corner in Nashik. Investigations had also revealed that the brothers were using two additional flats in the same building that had been allotted to other beneficiaries.

Based on an inquiry by the district administration, Vishwanath Patil, then an official of the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) department, lodged a complaint, following which a fraud case was registered at the Sarkarwada Police Station.

Since his induction into the Cabinet, Kokate has frequently courted controversy. He was earlier divested of the Agriculture portfolio following allegations that he was playing games on his mobile phone during a Legislative Council session.

Kokate denied the charge, but the episode drew widespread criticism. He also drew criticism for remarks on farmers and for attacking coalition partner BJP during a municipal campaign.