Mumbai, Aug 29: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, has busted an alleged drug trafficking network and seized 547 grams of a substance that tested positive for cocaine/methaqualone during an operation in Mira Road, Mumbai, the agency said in a statement.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers launched surveillance after receiving information that a Kenyan national was travelling by bus from Indore to Mumbai to allegedly deliver a consignment of narcotic drugs to a Nigerian national.

According to the agency, DRI officials intercepted the Kenyan woman along with a Nigerian national who had arrived in Mira Road to receive the suspected drug consignment.

During the examination of the Kenyan national’s bag, officers recovered two packets marked “LV”. The packets contained a white crystalline substance with a combined weight of 547 grams. The substance was tested using an NDPS field-testing kit and was found to be positive for cocaine/methaqualone, the DRI said.

The recovered substance has been seized, and both individuals have been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The agency said further investigation into the case is currently underway.

In its statement, the DRI said, “This operation reflects DRI’s continued commitment to intelligence-led enforcement against the trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, thereby disrupting drug trafficking networks and safeguarding public health and society from the menace of narcotics.”

The agency said such operations are aimed at identifying and disrupting organised networks involved in the illicit movement and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Intelligence-led surveillance, it added, remains an important component of efforts to prevent illegal drug trafficking and curb the circulation of narcotics.

The DRI also linked the latest enforcement action to the broader government campaign against drug abuse and illicit narcotics. The agency said sustained enforcement efforts contribute to the Government’s vision of a ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ by reducing the availability and illegal circulation of narcotic drugs.

The seizure in Mira Road comes as enforcement agencies continue to intensify efforts against drug trafficking networks operating across state and international boundaries. The DRI’s investigation is expected to establish the source of the seized substance, its intended destination and the wider network, if any, connected to the two arrested individuals.

Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.

Jalgaon, Aug 29: A 17-year-old student allegedly died by suicide in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district on Raksha Bandhan after posting emotional messages for his sister and parents on social media.

The deceased has been identified as Rohit Sahebrao Dhangar, a Class 11 student from the Arts stream. The incident took place in the Juna Asoda Road area of Jalgaon and has left his family in deep shock.

According to preliminary information, Rohit had gone to his father’s house along with his father on Raksha Bandhan. After receiving a Rakhi from his sister, he returned home with his father on a two-wheeler.

After reaching home, Rohit posted a photograph with his sister on Instagram along with an emotional message. He reportedly wrote, “Take care of everyone, Didi. Don’t leave Mom and Dad alone. I’m leaving.”

He also posted another status that read, “Next time I come, I’ll be everyone’s favourite.”

Preliminary information suggests that Rohit had also sent a video message to a friend, reportedly saying that he had lost money while playing online games.

After receiving the message, the friend rushed to Rohit’s house. However, by the time he arrived, Rohit had allegedly hanged himself.

The family immediately rushed him to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jalgaon, where doctors declared him dead.

The incident has caused a stir in the area, with the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death being investigated by the police.

The Shani Peth Police Station has registered a case of accidental death and initiated an investigation. Police are examining Rohit’s social media posts and messages to understand the circumstances that may have led to the incident.

Meanwhile, Rohit had also posted another dialogue as his status, which read, “When I come next time, I will be everyone’s favourite. I will erase all the remaining scars. There will be no tears in your eyes, and I will not take anything away from your heart. Thank you…”

The incident has left Rohit’s sister and parents devastated, particularly as it occurred on Raksha Bandhan, a festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.

New Delhi, Aug 28: The CBI arrested an IRS officer serving as Additional Commissioner of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), another GST official and their accomplice in Raigad district of Maharashtra, in a Rs 40 lakh bribery case, an official said on Friday.

Vinay Kumar Kantheti, Additional Commissioner of GST (IRS-2009), Rakesh Kumar Sinha, Superintendent of GST, and private person Narinder Rajput were arrested on Thursday, the CBI official said in a statement.

The CBI registered the instant case on August 26 against the accused Superintendent of CGST on the allegations that he had demanded an undue advantage of Rs 1.50 crore for settling the GST/royalty matter relating to the stone-quarrying firm of the complainant.

After negotiation, the demand was subsequently reduced to Rs 40 lakh, the CBI said.

The accused public servants had arranged for collection of the bribe amount through Rajput and accordingly directed the complainant to contact the former.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused private person red-handed while accepting an undue advantage of Rs 40 lakh, said the statement.

The CBI said that the acceptance of the bribe amount was subsequently acknowledged by the accused Superintendent of CGST as well as the accused Additional Commissioner of CGST.

All three accused persons have been arrested and are being produced before the competent court.

Searches conducted at the premises of the accused resulted in the further recovery of cash amounting to Rs 43 lakh and jewellery worth Rs 90 lakh, the CBI said.

In a separate case earlier, the CBI on Thursday arrested Chief Engineer (Electrical) and Superintending Engineer (Electrical) of BSNL, Bhopal, in a Rs 75,000 bribery case.

The CBI registered the case on allegations that the accused Chief Engineer (Electrical) and Superintending Engineer (Electrical) posted at BSNL, Bhopal, demanded an undue advantage of Rs 2 lakh each for themselves and a co-accused from a Jabalpur-based firm which executed Operation & Comprehensive Maintenance (OCM) and electrical installation-related work for BSNL.

The CBI said the bribe amount was demanded to process pending bills of the firm for 14 different works.

The CBI laid a trap and caught both accused BSNL officers in Bhopal red-handed while accepting an undue advantage of Rs 75,000 each as part payment of the demanded bribe of Rs 2 lakh from each accused.

Searches were later conducted at the residential and office premises of the accused persons in Bhopal, Lucknow and Kanpur, the CBI said.