Surat, Oct 8: The Surat City’s Special Operations Group (SOG), along with the Food and Drugs Department, in Gujarat, raided two medical stores in the Salabatpura-Mandarwaja area for allegedly selling medicines used for intoxication without doctors’ prescriptions and seized 18,316 tablets and three bottles of codeine syrup valued at Rs 2.75 lakh.

The action was carried out on Wednesday at Smit Sai and Daruwala Shivshakti medical stores located at Halpati Colony on the 80-foot road from Kinnari towards Bhathena.

According to the SOG, the action followed instructions from Surat Police Commissioner Wabang Jamir to identify medical stores allegedly selling intoxicating syrups and tablets without prescriptions, and in violation of regulations.

The police said such medicines could be misused for intoxication, including by young people.

SOG Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajdeepsinh Nakum supervised the operation, while SOG Police Inspector A.S. Sonara formed separate teams to keep watch on medical stores suspected of selling medicines used for intoxication.

The SOG said it received information that intoxicating medicines were being sold without doctors’ prescriptions at two medical stores in the Salabatpura-Mandarwaja area.

Following the information, SOG personnel conducted the raids along with Food and Drugs Inspectors G.U. Upadhyay, Jeelben Gameti and Pinalben Vavaiya.

During inspections, the Food and Drugs Department found stocks of medicines that were allegedly being kept in violation of regulations and could be used for intoxication.

The seized stock comprised 1,440 Pyeevon Sas Plus tablets, 144 Spas Tracenp tablets, 6,920 Spasmo Proxyvon tablets, 750 Apcolam tablets, 3,840 Calic tablets, 5,200 Prehabalin tablets and 20 Pregout Kit tablets. In addition, three bottles of codeine syrup were recovered.

“The total number of tablets seized was 18,316, while the combined value of the seized medicines and syrup was estimated at Rs 2,75,068,” the SOG said.

The Food and Drugs Department has begun further investigation into the stock recovered from both medical stores.

The police said that if the medicines are found to have been kept or sold illegally, legal action will be taken against the licence holders and operators of the two medical stores.

The SOG said the operation was undertaken as part of efforts to identify medical stores involved in the unauthorised sale of medicines that are liable to be misused for intoxication.

Navi Mumbai, Oct 8: Sanjay Kantu Yadav, a 38-year-old man, died in police custody in Navi Mumbai. Yadav was arrested by the Navi Mumbai International Airport Police in connection with a case. He lived in Ananta Tower in Ulwe Sector 6 and was originally from Varanasi district in Uttar Pradesh. Following his arrest, a court remanded him in police custody.

According to police, Yadav was lodged in the lock-up at the NRI Sagari Police Station in Navi Mumbai on October 8. At the time, the lock-up staff noticed him clenching his fists and flexing his arms and legs. When his condition deteriorated, police officers immediately rushed him to Meenatai Thackeray Hospital in Nerul, where he was declared dead during treatment.

Police said Yadav had undergone a medical examination at Panvel Rural Hospital before his arrest. He did not report any health problems when he was produced before the court. Even during a medical examination conducted on October 6, he did not report any illness or health-related complaints.

Senior police officials have been informed about the incident. A inquest report is being conducted through videography in the presence of the Belapur First Class Judicial Magistrate, panch witnesses and the deceased man’s family members.

The body is being sent to J.J. Hospital in Mumbai for a post-mortem examination. Police said further legal proceedings are underway.

However, this is not the first such incident in Maharashtra.

Earlier, on September 22, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Maharashtra Police was investigating the death of a 35-year-old man who died while in the custody of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai.

The deceased, Imran Shaikh, had come to the city from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh in search of employment.

According to Central Railway officials, Shaikh had made enquiries about trains bound for Khandwa at the main RPF post at CSMT on September 20.

Officials said he appeared agitated and claimed that people were trying to kill him. They said Shaikh subsequently became aggressive and attacked RPF Sub-Inspector Aniket. He also inflicted injuries on himself, according to officials.

New Delhi/Bengaluru, Oct 8: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday claimed that an attempt was made to trap him through a sting operation after he became CM and said he had photographs and documents to substantiate his allegations.

Addressing reporters in Delhi, CM Shivakumar said several people had approached him after he assumed office and claimed that he knew who was behind the alleged sting operations.

“An attempt was made to trap me after I became the Chief Minister. A few people approached me. I have photographs. I know who the father of these sting operations is,” he said.

Referring to a Kannada proverb about thieves behaving smartly after committing a crime, even as their act is evident, Shivakumar said he was aware of the people involved and had informed the police about the developments.

“I know all of them. I have informed the police and kept all the documents regarding certain persons approaching me after I became the Chief Minister,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he could not reveal all details of the matter, but claimed he knew how the people approached him, whom they had met and who was behind the alleged operation.

“They came to discuss some matter. How they came and approached me, who they met, I know every detail. Who is planning all of this, I know,” he said.

Shivakumar said he had instructed officials to remain cautious as government officers could be trapped unnecessarily in such operations.

“I do not want to answer to other persons. I have asked my officers to be careful, as our officers are trapped unnecessarily. So, I have given a word of caution,” he said.

He further claimed that there were three circles of people around him and alleged that some persons had been hired as part of the alleged operation.

“I have three circles around me. They have hired some people. A few leaders have done it, and I have exact information,” Shivakumar said.

The Chief Minister alleged that he himself had been targeted as part of an attempt to launch sting operations and said similar operations were also being conducted against others.

“They have targeted me, and they want to start the sting operations from me. I have all the proof to prove it. I do not speak just like that. I have all the proof. I am talking about targeting me after I became the Chief Minister,” he said.

Shivakumar also claimed he knew who was behind the alleged sting operations and who was financing them.

“They are also carrying out stings on others. I know who is behind it and who is financing the sting operations,” he said.

It may be noted that the issue of possible sting operations targeting Congress ministers came to the forefront after CM Shivakumar allegedly expressed apprehension at a Cabinet meeting that the BJP and JD(S) could target the ministers and conduct sting operations against them.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday questioned CM Shivakumar over the alleged sting operations against Congress ministers, saying Shivakumar himself had warned his Cabinet colleagues to be cautious about their movements and interactions.

Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President B.Y. Vijayendra on Wednesday alleged that Congress has a history of conducting sting operations and using them to blackmail people, and said this could be confirmed by speaking to the party’s own Ministers and legislators.

Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka on Wednesday claimed that CM Shivakumar was worried about alleged sting operations targeting Congress ministers because he had been involved in such activities earlier.