New Delhi, Sep 9: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has secured the conviction of two drug traffickers in connection with the seizure of 1,127 kg of Ganja in Maharashtra, in a major success in its efforts to combat drug trafficking and further the vision of a ‘Drug-Free India’.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Special NDPS Court, Biloli, Nanded, Maharashtra, on September 8, convicted two accused persons, Gokul Narayan Rajput and Sunil Yadav Mahajan, in connection with the seizure made by the NCB Mumbai Zonal Unit.

The case pertains to the interception of a truck bearing registration number MH-26-AD-2165 on November 15, 2021, near Manjram village in Naigaon taluka of Nanded district, Maharashtra. During a search of the vehicle, NCB officers recovered 49 bags containing 1,127 kg of Ganja. The contraband, along with the truck and other articles, was seized in accordance with the law.

Rajput, the driver of the truck, and Mahajan, the co-driver, were arrested in connection with the case. The prosecution established before the court that both accused were in conscious possession of a commercial quantity of Ganja and had failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for their possession.

After examining the evidence and material on record, the court held that the prosecution had proved the offence beyond reasonable doubt under Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The court subsequently convicted both accused and sentenced each of them to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh. In case of default in payment of the fine, each accused will undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.

The court also ordered the confiscation of the truck and other relevant seized articles in accordance with the provisions of the NDPS Act, subject to the statutory process.

The conviction underscores the NCB’s commitment to effective investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking cases and its resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks, thereby contributing to the vision of a ‘Drug-Free India’.

The NCB has also appealed to citizens to support its fight against drug trafficking. Information related to the sale, trafficking or distribution of narcotic drugs can be shared by calling the MANAS-National Narcotics Helpline toll-free number, 1933. The identity of the informer will be kept confidential.

New Delhi, Sep 8: The Delhi Assembly, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya (SPV) and several government establishments in the national capital received bomb threats through email on Tuesday, officials said, prompting security agencies to immediately activate standard operating procedures and launch extensive checks at the affected locations.

The threats were reported during the morning hours, following which security agencies and emergency response teams were rushed to the locations as a precautionary measure. Officials said the areas were secured and detailed anti-sabotage checks were initiated to rule out any possible security threat.

Teams from the Delhi Police, bomb detection and disposal squads, dog units, and the Delhi Fire Services reached the locations and cordoned off the concerned areas as part of the standard security protocol followed after receipt of a bomb threat.

So far, nothing suspicious has been found at any of the locations searched by the security teams, officials said. The premises are being checked thoroughly, and authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as part of the precautionary arrangements.

Further investigation into the email and the source of the threat is underway.

The latest threat has come amid existing security concerns surrounding the Delhi Assembly, which has received similar bomb threats in the past.

Earlier, on August 14, multiple locations in Delhi, including the Delhi High Court, had received bomb threats, prompting heightened security arrangements in the national capital ahead of Independence Day.

The Delhi High Court had received the threat through email, with the message warning of an alleged blast at the court at 2.11 p.m. on August 15. The email was titled ‘BOMB Blast Delhi High Court @ 2:11PM’ and specifically mentioned the timing of the purported explosion.

The same email had also threatened explosions at district courts in Delhi at 3:11 p.m. on August 15, adding to security concerns in the national capital ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.

In addition to the High Court, five other locations had received bomb threats through phone calls. These included Jamnagar House, Jhandewalan Building, the MB Road Saket office, Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office in Delhi Cantonment.

Pune, Sep 8: Pune Crime Branch has busted an inter-state gang involved in stealing transformers and copper wires from them in and around the city, arresting three accused and recovering stolen property worth Rs 12.73 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.

According to police, the Unit 7 team was conducting patrols when Constable Vinayak Salve received confidential information that some people involved in transformer thefts would arrive in the Wadegaon area of Haveli taluka.

Acting on the information, Police Inspector Wahid Pathan directed PSI Rahul Kolpe to verify the information and initiate legal action. A trap was subsequently laid at Wadegaon, where police intercepted a goods tempo bearing registration number MH-12-GT-6675 on Sunday.

Three men travelling in the vehicle were detained and questioned. They were identified as Mohammed Sahebjaan Mangrekhan, 30, Adarsh Chandraprakash Pandey, 22, and Chandrasen Shivratan Dharia, 28. Police said all three are originally from Uttar Pradesh and were residing in Pune district.

During questioning, the accused confessed to stealing copper wires from eight transformers over the past five to six months. The thefts reportedly took place in Wadegaon, Ashtapur, Sangvi Sandas, Nhavi Sandas, and Hingangaon areas under the jurisdiction of Lonikand Police Station.

Police said the arrests helped solve eight cases registered at Lonikand Police Station under Section 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 136 of the Indian Electricity Act.

The three accused were arrested, and further investigation is underway to determine whether other people were involved in the gang and identify where the stolen copper material was being sold.

Earlier, on May 27, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police had arrested three members of a gang involved in 48 cases of electricity transformer theft across Pune district.

Chakan North police had cracked the case while investigating the theft of copper wires from a transformer installed at Nexus Healthcare in Biradwadi village, Khed taluka. The theft reportedly took place between May 15 and 16.