Four arrested in Nagpur's Khapri with 18.34 g mephedrone found in car near roadside eatery

Belatrodi police have arrested four people in the Khapri area on Nagpur-Wardha Road in a crackdown on the drug trade. A total of 18.34 grams of MD (mephedrone) was recovered from a car parked near a roadside eatery. Police seized the drug, two mobile phones and the car. The seized property has been valued at Rs 16.06 lakh.

The action took place on November 10, between 9.30 am and 10 am. The Belatrodi police investigation team was on routine patrol at the time. While patrolling the police station's jurisdiction, the team spotted a white Maruti Ertiga, registration number CG-08-Y-5760, parked outside New Punjabi Dhaba near the Bharat petrol pump in Khapri. The occupants looked suspicious, so the policemen approached and checked the vehicle.

Four men were found inside the car. According to police, they are Bhushan Ramesh Kursange (36), a resident of Chichbhavan, Wardha Road; Nitesh Subhash Shahu (26), a resident of Dahegaon Rangari, Saoner Road; Saurabh Satish Laskare (23), a resident of Chichbhavan, near Bobde Atta Chakki; and Mohit Gajanan Bhajipale (23), a resident of Dongargaon, Wardha Road, near Zayka Hotel. All four live in Nagpur.

Police suspected the car might contain a narcotic substance. A search was then conducted in the presence of independent panch witnesses. Police said all the necessary procedures laid down under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were strictly followed.

In the search, police found a white zip-lock pouch in the pocket of the trousers worn by accused number 1, Bhushan Kursange. It allegedly contained 18.34 grams of MD powder in concealment.

According to police, during questioning the accused allegedly said they had brought the MD powder to sell. Police said the accused were keeping the drug in their possession for profit.

The seized items include the 18.34 grams of MD powder, two mobile phones and the Maruti Ertiga. The entire property has been valued at Rs 16,06,700. Police also said a background check showed that Kursange is a history-sheeter with previous criminal records against him.

After the recovery, Belatrodi police registered a case against all four accused under Sections 8(c), 22(b) and 29 of the NDPS Act. These sections relate to possession of narcotic drugs, violations involving psychotropic substances, and criminal conspiracy or abetment.

All four accused have been arrested. In further investigation, police are trying to establish where the MD was supplied from and to which buyers it was meant to be delivered. Police are also examining whether the accused were part of a larger drug distribution network operating in Nagpur and surrounding areas.