Crime
Mumbai: SIIB Foils Rs 10 Crore Red Sandalwood Smuggling Plot, Arrests Importer-Exporter Code Holder

The Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB-Export) has apprehended Santosh Nalawade, an allegedly key figure in an interstate smuggling network, for his involvement in a red sandalwood smuggling operation involving 9.6 metric tons valued at Rs 10 crore.
IEC Holder For Elite Exim Trading, Santosh Nalawade Arrested
Nalawade, the Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) holder for Elite Exim Trading, had been evading authorities for several days but was apprehended on Tuesday. He was presented before the Uran Court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. This marks the third and crucial arrest in the case, following the earlier arrests of transporter Akshay Bhausaheb Aher and driver Ganesh Sukhadare, who are associates of Nalawade.
About Santosh Nalawade
According to officials Nalawade is alleged to be one of the masterminds in an organized smuggling ring with international links He had planned to export 9.6 tons of red sandalwood to Sharjah under the guise of “Western Combat Toilets.” The operation was meticulously planned, with contingency measures such as a “Plan B” to evade arrest and prevent the full scope of the scheme from being exposed and to shield other syndicate members. These strategies are reportedly adopted by techniques seen in movies.
About The Smuggling Plot
A senior officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, has revealed the Nalawade in collusion with smuggling network syndicates had meticulously orchestrated the operation. He booked two containers, aided in numbering the both with same number, and handed over the delivery order of these containers to other masterminds. One container loaded on a truck, labeled as carrying “Western commode toilet seats,” was stationed at Sarveshwar CFS in JNPT SEZ, Navi Mumbai, under Elite Exim Trading’s name, and had officially declared the cargo as a delivery destined for a Sharjah-based company. while the second container, filled with red sandalwood logs worth Rs 10 crores, was waiting at a distant location from the port.
On September 2nd, the container stationed at Sarveshwar CFS, loaded with the Western commode toilet seats, underwent rigorous scrutiny and received customs clearance from the SIIB. After clearance, the truck loaded with this container was dispatched to JNCH Port for loading onto an international vessel. However, the truck with its sealed container mysteriously disappeared and diverted to the location where the second truck, loaded with red sandalwood consignment, was waiting. Both containers had identical specifications, including size, weight, and the same container number. The red sandalwood truck with a container, using customs documents for the toilet seats, proceeded to the BMCT port terminal at Nhava Sheva, aiming to smuggle the cargo. following the instructions of masterminds including Nalawade. Meanwhile, the original truck, which was carrying Western commode toilet seats, returned to the supplier with its cargo, despite having already been cleared for export by SIIB.
However, acting on a critical tip-off, the SIIB mobilized and intercepted the container containing the illicit cargo.
The investigation revealed that Nalawade’s operation was designed to keep participants isolated and unaware of each other to avoid exposing the broader network if any member was apprehended. He aimed to avoid any loopholes, which is why he did not hire a Customs House Agent (CHA) for the consignment export. Instead, he managed the consignment through his own company. Nalawade in collusion with syndicate members used the tricky tactic to collect red sandalwood consignments from Pune and Ahmednagar.
This strategy was designed so that if any individual were apprehended by law enforcement, customs, or any other agency, they would not be able to reveal further links or connections within the operation.
The arrested transporter, Akshay Bhausaheb Aher, and the driver, Ganesh Sukhadare—both associates of Nalawade—revealed crucial details during the investigation.
According to Sukhadare, he had collected an empty container from M/s Bhavani Empty Container on Aher’s instructions. After retrieving the container, Sukhadare left the truck with the empty container in private parking near T-Point, Pushpak Nagar, with the keys inside the cabin. He was aware that someone else would later relocate the vehicle to an undisclosed location, a few days before the smuggling operation. The vehicle carrying the empty container was then moved to the border areas of Pune and Ahmednagar District by an unidentified person hired by Nalawade for the collection and transport of the illicit goods, red sandalwood, totaling 9,260 kg valued at approximately Rs 10 crore, and reached the Navi Mumbai border area on September 3.
As planned, the truck carrying the red sandalwood, with its container swapped and accompanied by customs clearance documents, arrived at Nhava Sheva port, where it was intercepted by the SIIB following a critical tip-off.
The SIIB is currently investigating the Pune/Ahmednagar locations where the truck carrying the container was parked and loaded with Red Sanders. This investigation aims to pinpoint the exact collection points and to identify the individuals involved. Additionally, the SIIB is probing the state supplier and the recipient in Sharjah-based consignee.
Crime
‘They Stepped On My Daughter’s Head…’: Muslim Family Accuses Policeman of Crushing Infant to Death During Raid in Rajasthan’s Alwar

Alwar, Rajasthan: A one-month-old infant, Alisba, died after allegedly being crushed under a police officer’s foot during a raid in Alwar’s Raghunathgarh village on Sunday (March 2) morning.
The raid, conducted at around 6:00 AM at the house of daily-wage labourer Imran Khan, was led by head constables Girdhari and Jagveer, along with constables Sunil, Rishi, and Shahid.
As per reports, Imran claimed that the police entered their house without warning while his wife was asleep with their one-month-old daughter, who was wrapped in a blanket.
“When I was sleeping on the cot with my infant daughter, the policemen arrived all of a sudden, pulled me out, and sent me out of the room. They also pulled my husband out. They stepped on my infant daughter’s head and killed her. This is murder, and I want justice,” Razida Khan, the mother of the deceased girl, told media.
After the police ignored the family’s complaint, angry villagers gathered outside the Alwar SP (Rural) residence, staging a protest demanding justice.
As per the report, ASP Tejpal Singh confirmed that an FIR was filed against unidentified police personnel, and Imran Khan’s family was assured of action.
Following this, Alwar SP Sanjeev Nain sent the accused officials to police lines. Police sources said the raid was linked to a cybercrime case, but Imran Khan was not named in any FIR. Imran denied any role in online fraud and claimed that the police seized his phone during the raid.
Condemning the incident, Rajasthan LoP Tika Ram Jully urged the Chief Minister to take stringent action against the responsible. “In Alwar, the police are harassing the public in the name of cyber fraud. Raids are being conducted, and money is extorted. I raised this issue in the Vidhan Sabha as well. An infant died during the raid by the police. The Chief Minister should take cognizance and ensure that the public is not harassed. Action should be taken against those responsible, but the public should not be harassed,” he told media.
Crime
‘Resignation Not Enough, Book Dhananjay Munde For Murder’: Maratha Activist Manoj Jarange-Patil

Beed (Maharashtra): Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has said that the resignation of Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde is not enough and has demanded that murder charges be filed against him in connection with the killing of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
Munde, who was Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister and an MLA from Parli, resigned from the state cabinet after his close aide, Walmik Karad, was identified as the mastermind behind Deshmukh’s murder. His resignation followed mounting pressure from the opposition and public outrage over the brutal killing.
Visit to Massajog and Calls for Strict Action
Jarange visited Massajog village in Beed to meet Deshmukh’s family after graphic images of the murder went viral. Speaking to reporters, he stated, “Munde’s resignation as a minister is not enough. He should also step down as an MLA, and murder charges should be filed against him.”
He alleged that the accused in the case were closely associated with Munde and that the money collected through their activities was reaching him.
The Case & Investigation
The demand for Munde’s resignation intensified after shocking details emerged in the court chargesheet, revealing the brutalities committed before Deshmukh’s murder.
Deshmukh was allegedly abducted, tortured, and killed on December 9, 2023, for attempting to stop an extortion racket targeting an energy company in the district.
On February 27, the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) filed a 1,200-page chargesheet in a Beed district court, detailing Deshmukh’s murder and two related cases.
Fighting For Justice
Jarange emphasized the need to dismantle the extortion network in Beed, stating, “The only job now is to destroy this racket. But some people are so consumed by money and power that they will go to any extent for it.”
Deshmukh’s brother, Dhananjay Deshmukh, said the past few months had been unbearable and had left him emotionally shattered. He also alleged that some politicians had pressured the former superintendent of police in Beed to suppress the case.
With public outrage growing, demands for stricter action against those involved are gaining momentum, keeping the case in the political spotlight.
Crime
‘India Got Latent’ row: Ranveer Allahbadia to appear before Assam Police today

Guwahati, March 4: YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia is set to appear before the Assam Police in Guwahati on Tuesday in the case related to his controversial comments on the stage of ‘India Got Latent’ show that has attracted massive backlash for the podcaster.
A case against Allahbadia was registered in Guwahati and he was served summons to appear before the Assam Police here.
The Guwahati Crime Branch last week questioned another YouTuber Ashish Chanchalani, who has also been embroiled in the controversy for his comments made during an episode of ‘India’s Got Latent’ show.
The interrogation lasted several hours after the YouTuber arrived at the Crime Branch office.
“YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani showed up for interrogation at the Crime Branch. He has complied with our inquiry. We will phone him if necessary, but we are not currently calling him again. We have not yet received a response from other people connected to the investigation. They will receive new summonses shortly,” Guwahati’s Joint Police Commissioner Ankur Jain told reporters here.
When Allahbadia made controversial comments on the show hosted by comedian Samay Raina, Chanchlani was listed in the Assam FIR.
Due to his remarks regarding parents and sex in an episode of the show, Allahbadia, better known by his stage name BeerBiceps, faced severe criticism and complaints.
Chanchlani has pleaded that the FIR filed at the Guwahati Crime Branch, Guwahati Police Commissionerate’s Cyber Police Station be quashed.
As the Maharashtra FIR was filed first, the YouTuber requested that the Guwahati FIR be transferred to Mumbai. While considering Chanchlani’s anticipatory bail motion, the Gauhati High Court granted him temporary relief on February 18 and instructed him to appear in person before the investigating officer within ten days.
The lawyer for Chanchlani contended that their client made no statements on the show and that the FIR’s accusations were limited to the co-accused. Under certain provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhtia, Information Technology Act, Cinematograph Act, and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, Guwahati Police filed a formal complaint against Chanchlani on February 10.
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