Mumbai: In a major crackdown on organised international drug trafficking networks, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Mumbai Zonal Unit has successfully executed a restraining order against habitual drug trafficker Naveen Gurunath Chachakar under the provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

The detention order was issued on May 15 by the Joint Secretary, PIT-NDPS Division, Department of Revenue, Government of India, and was implemented on June 16. As per the order, the detainee was shifted from Yerwada Central Jail, Pune, Maharashtra, to Pujhal Central Jail, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Naveen Gurunath Chachakar is a habitual drug offender who has been repeatedly involved in smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances including cocaine, hydroponic ganja, cannabis gummies and LSD. He has been arrested on four occasions by various law enforcement agencies including the NCB and Navi Mumbai Police in connection with drug trafficking offences.

In 2021, after being implicated in an NCB Mumbai case involving commercial quantities of ganja and LSD, Chachakar fled India and subsequently established links with international drug suppliers, operating from several foreign jurisdictions including Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, UAE and the Republic of Vanuatu. Investigations have revealed that he continued to organise drug trafficking activities targeting India through international criminal networks.

In January 2025, a major seizure investigation by the NCB Mumbai led to the recovery of 11.540 kg of cocaine, along with hydroponic ganja and cannabis tablets. Investigations have shown that Chachakar, who was operating from Thailand, masterminded the purchase and supply of cocaine seized from the US. His involvement also came to light in another NCB case, which was investigated by Navi Mumbai Police in connection with the seizure of cocaine and the smuggling of hydroponic ganja in January 2025. Following the NCB’s request, an Interpol Red Notice was issued, following which Chachkar was extradited from Malaysia to India in May 2025 and arrested by NCB Mumbai.

Naveen Gurunath Chachkar was likely to indulge in drug trafficking again, posing a continuing threat to social/public order and was likely to commit further offences against the law. Therefore, it was necessary to intervene through preventive detention to ensure that he does not continue his illegal drug trafficking activities and to protect society from the threat posed by his continued criminal conduct.

The financial investigation conducted by the NCB resulted in the freezing of movable and immovable assets worth over Rs. 10 crore, suspected to have been acquired through drug trafficking. The action was later confirmed under the provisions of SAFEMA.

Recognizing his continued involvement in illegal drug trafficking and the seriousness of the threat posed to society by his activities, action was initiated under the PIT-NDPS Act. The present detention highlights the important role of the PIT-NDPS Act, 1988, as a deterrent legal mechanism designed to disable habitual and organised drug traffickers who continue to indulge in illegal trafficking activities despite repeated arrests and criminal legal proceedings. Unlike ordinary criminal proceedings, preventive detention under the PIT-NDPS Act serves as an effective means of disrupting and neutralising drug trafficking networks by preventing key criminals from continuing their illegal activities and influencing criminal groups.

This action reflects the NCB’s determination to leverage all available legal provisions including preventive detention, financial investigation and international cooperation to dismantle organised drug syndicates and save society from the menace of drugs. It also reinforces the unwavering commitment of the Government of India to fulfil the vision of “Nisha Mukt Bharat @ 2047”.

Citizens are encouraged to share information related to drug trafficking through MANAS (National Narcotics Helpline) – toll-free number 1933. The identity of informants is kept strictly confidential.

Mumbai, June 18: As the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) stares at the prospect of a fresh rebellion within its Lok Sabha ranks, political observers point out that internal revolts have been a recurring feature of the party’s history.

Established by Balasaheb Thackeray on June 19, 1966, on the twin pillars of Marathi identity and Hindutva politics, the Shiv Sena has weathered several major splits over the past three and a half decades. From the first major defection in 1991 to the dramatic rupture of 2022, almost every decade has witnessed a prominent leader breaking away from the organisation.

The first serious challenge to Balasaheb Thackeray’s authority emerged in 1991 when senior Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader Chhagan Bhujbal rebelled against the party leadership. Disenchanted with internal functioning and his position within the organisation, Bhujbal walked out with 17 MLAs and joined Sharad Pawar’s camp. He later went on to serve as a minister and Deputy Chief Minister in Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) governments. The episode marked the first major legislative revolt against the Shiv Sena leadership.

Another significant departure followed in 1999 when Navi Mumbai strongman Ganesh Naik severed ties with the party and joined the newly formed NCP. Naik, who wielded considerable influence in the Navi Mumbai region, remained a key NCP leader for nearly two decades before switching to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019, while retaining his political dominance in the area.

The next major setback came in 2005 with the exit of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane. Growing differences with the emerging leadership of Uddhav Thackeray led to a bitter fallout and eventual expulsion from the party. Rane joined the Congress, later floated the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha, and eventually aligned with the BJP, where he continues to be an influential figure in the Konkan region.

A year later, the Shiv Sena suffered what many regarded as its most emotional split. Raj Thackeray, Balasaheb Thackeray’s nephew, parted ways with the Shiv Sena, citing marginalisation within the organisation and disagreements over Uddhav Thackeray’s style of functioning. In 2006, he launched the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The party made an impressive debut, winning 13 Assembly seats in 2009, but gradually lost political ground and now has only a limited electoral presence.

Unlike previous rebellions in which leaders simply left to form or join other parties, Eknath Shinde’s revolt in 2022 fundamentally altered the Shiv Sena itself. Leading a rebellion by 40 MLAs and a majority of the party’s MPs, Shinde challenged Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership and claimed to represent the party’s original ideology.

With support from the BJP, he not only split the organisation but also secured control of the official Shiv Sena name and its iconic bow and arrow symbol through legal and constitutional processes. The development forced Uddhav Thackeray’s faction to function under the Shiv Sena (UBT) banner.

Now, amid speculation surrounding “Operation Tiger” and reports that six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs could cross over to the Shinde camp, the party once again finds itself confronting familiar political turbulence. Should the defection materialise, it would become the latest chapter in a long history of internal revolts that have repeatedly reshaped both the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra’s political landscape.

Mumbai, June 18: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshvardhan Sapkal has said that the rebellion by six Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Shiv Sena-UBT faction is not merely a betrayal of Uddhav Thackeray and his party, but also a betrayal of the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

He told reporters on Wednesday that the people elected them by voting against the ruling MahaYuti alliance, and this act amounts to a breach of the public’s trust.

He warmed that “such traitors will ultimately be taught a lesson by the people themselves”.

Sapkal said that the six MPs who rebelled and left the Shiv Sena-UBT were elected as candidates of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

“During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, workers of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, and Shiv Sena campaigned for these candidates, disregarding threats and refusing to succumb to any inducements. The people placed their faith in them. This rebellion is an insult to all those workers and voters, and these six MPs have betrayed each one of them,” he added.

“These individuals, who have become subservient to money, can never truly serve the people. Their only concern is wealth. Those who can be bought with money ultimately belong to no one,” Sapkal said.

He also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been trampling upon democratic and Constitutional values and has adopted an autocratic style of governance based on the principle of “whatever we do becomes the law”.

According to Sapkal, the BJP’s sole objective is power, and over the past few years elections have been reduced to a money game.

“If they fail to win an election, they attempt to buy victorious candidates with money; if that does not work, they use the Election Commission to get nominations cancelled. Such a distorted system is now in operation. These developments pose a serious threat to democracy,” he said.

Sapkal also remarked that the most unfortunate aspect is that justice is not available in any institution — whether in the Legislature, Parliament, or the courts.

“The BJP has captured all institutions, and governance is being run through fear and intimidation,” the State Congress President alleged.