Pune Police Invoke MCOCA Against Drug Racketeer Lalit Patil And 13 Others
Pune, 3rd November 2023: Pune city police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) against drug racketeer Lalit Anil Patil (27) of Nashik and Arvid Kumar Prakashchandra Lohre (39) of Uttar Pradesh who lived in Mumbai, along with 12 other accomplices. The Crime Branch has successfully dismantled an organized crime network involved in the trafficking, sale, and manufacturing of narcotics.
An FIR was registered at Bundgarden police station after Subhash Janki Mandal (29) was caught on September 30, near Sassoon Hospital in Pune. Mandal was found in possession of a significant quantity of the narcotic drug Mephedrone (MD), with a value of Rs 2.14 crore. Later other accused were also arrested.
The investigation revealed a well-organized criminal gang operating for the past decade, engaging in the illicit trade of narcotics.
The proposal for legal action under the Maharashtra Organized Crime Control Act, 1999, was submitted by Crime Branch ACP Sunil Tambe to Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ramnath Pokle through DCP (Crime) Amol Zende. After scrutiny, the approval was granted, paving the way for further legal proceedings.
In response to the successful operation, Commissioner of Police Retesh Kumaarr has directed all police officers and constables to intensify crime control efforts. The focus is on eliminating criminals who pose a threat to public safety and create terror in society.
This operation marks the 76th successful case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the current year.
