Police take custody of chemical expert who gave Mephedrone training

Investgations had revealed that using Lohare’s expertise, the drug racketeers had allegedly set up Mepehedrone factory in Mahad in Raigad district, which was later shifted to Ranjangaon industrial area in Pune.

Police said Lohare had allegedly held multiple training sessions on Mephedrone manufacturing for some drug racketeers at a farmhouse in Karjat area in 2019. Lohare was known among his aides as “doctor”, police said.

Probe revealed when Lalit and Lohare were lodged together in Yerwada jail, they allegedly planned the Mephedrone factory in Nashik.

Police said as per Lalit’s guidance, his brother Bhushan and his aide Abhishek Balakawade took the help of wanted accused Harish Pant to set up the Mephedrone factory in Shindegaon MIDC in Nashik around December 2022.

Police said Lohare had trained Harish in making Mephedrone and the duo were arrested in a previous drug racket case lodged at the Indira Nagar police station in Nashik. Both were later released on bail in this case, but Lohare was arrested in Chakan drug seizure.

So for further investigation, police took Lohare into custody from Yerwada jail.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Sunil Tambe of crime branch produced Lohare along with Bhushan Patil and Balkawade before a magistrate court on Sunday.

Tambe told the court that Lohare is post-graduate in Chemistry and has worked in about ten chemical companies in the past.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Yogesh Kadam sought Lohare’s police custody saying his interrogation was essential in connection with training given to accused for manufacturing Mephedrone, also its transport and sale from the factory.

Kadam also sought extension in police custody of Bhushan Patil and Balkawade to confront them with Lohare for investigation.

Police submitted they are probing the duo’s bank statements.

Court remanded Lahore to police custody till October 25 and extended the custody of Bhushan Patil and Balkawade till October 3.

Meanwhile, police said they also want to confront Lohare with Rehan Ansari alias Golu (26), who is in their custody till October 27.

A aide of Lalit, Golu was allegedly carrying out transportation and sale of Mephedrone manufactured at the factory in Nashik.

Mumbai police had arrested Golu, a resident of Dharavi, along with Jishan Shaikh, Rahul Pandit alias Rohitkumar Chowdhary alias Amitkumar of Nashik, in a drug seizure case. While probing the matter, the Mumbai police had raided the factory run by Bhushant Patil in Nashik and had seized Mephedrone worth Rs 300 crore from the spot. During further investigation Mumbai police also arrested kingpin Lalit Patil from Chennai on October 17.

Patil had escaped from the Sassoon hospital in Pune on October 2. Since his arrest in the Chakan case, Lalit was lodged in Yerwada jail, but he often reported medical problems and managed to get himself admitted at the Sassoon hospital for “treatment”.

Pune police arrested his brother Bhushan and Balkawade, both from Nashik, on October 11, in the drug seizure case.

Also, police arrested Lalit’s close accomplice Pradnya Kamble and her aide Ankita Nikam from Nashik on October 18 for allegedly planning Lalit’s escape from Sassoon Hospital. Police have also named Pradnya as an accused in the drug seizure case.