A major drug racket operated by a notorious criminal from Nagpur has been busted near Hyderabad in Telangana. A total of 27 kg of mephedrone (MD) drug, worth around Rs 54 crore was seized by the police along with 40 kg of acetone which is used in drug manufacturing. The MD was made at a laboratory in Kondamadugu in Telangnga and the consignment was then being taken to Nagpur. Investigators suspect the drug was to be distributed in Nagpur and other parts of Vidarbha. The accused have been identified as Chetan Madhukar Meshram (49), of Nagpur; Akash Ashok Gawande (31), of Nagpur; Muvjamal Hoque (25), of Morigaon, Assam; and Upadrasthra Raman Murthy (65), of Chanda Nagar, Hyderabad. Meshram and Gawande have been arrested. Gopal Sirpat Patelia and Chanda Pradeep Thakur, both from Nagpur, are absconding, police said. Bibinagar police and the Special Operations Team (SOT) of Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district carried out the operation on Sunday.

 

The teams had received information about the transportation of drugs. They intercepted an SUV near Kondamadugu. The 27 kg MD was found inside the vehicle. Police also recovered 40 kg of acetone. During questioning, the accused told police that the MD was manufactured at Vetukuri Labs in Kondamadugu between August 5 and 7. Police then searched the laboratory. They seized a reactor, centrifuge and other equipment. The equipment was used to manufacture the drug. Police have identified Meshram as the organiser and financier. Murthy was in charge of Vetukuri Labs. He was involved in the manufacturing process.

 

The investigation then revealed the Nagpur connection. Police said the MD was being transported from Kondamadugu to Nagpur. It was meant for further distribution. Investigators are now trying to find out who was to receive the drug in Nagpur. They are also checking how the consignment was to be distributed in the city and Vidarbha. Gawande is a car driver from Nagpur. Police informed that he helped transport the MD towards Nagpur. The vehicle was intercepted before it could reach its destination. Patelia and Thakur are also wanted in the case. Both are from Nagpur. Special teams have been formed to trace them. Police are also looking for Mohammad Ayub Ali of Assam and Yeatucuri Ramaraju of Peerzadiguda in Hyderabad. Meshram’s arrest has also brought his old criminal record into focus. Jaripatka police arrested him in January 2021.

 

He was caught with two country-made pistols and four live cartridges. City Police had then described him as a known offender. He had also been externed from Nagpur. A 2022 Bombay High Court judgment records that Meshram had faced or was facing 21 prosecutions. Three cases were considered while passing his MPDA detention order. One was a Pardi case linked to the theft of a truck carrying iron rods. Another was a Nandanvan case involving a pistol and live cartridges. The third was a Lakadganj case about cheating, forgery and arms-related offences. Meshram was externed from Nagpur.