Two more cops dismissed from service in drug racketeer Lalit Patil escape case

It may be recalled that Lalit Patil was lodged in the Yerawada prison following his arrest by the Pimpri Chinchwad police in connection with the seizure of 20 kg of mephedrone worth Rs 20 crore from Chakan in October 2020. But he often managed to get himself admitted to Sassoon hospital for treatment.

On September 30, 2023, the police arrested Lalit’s aide Subhash Mandal from a spot near the hospital with over 1.71 kg of mephedrone worth Rs 2.14 crore. The probe revealed that the banned drug was supplied by Lalit, who was then admitted to ward number 16 of Sassoon hospital for treatment of ‘hernia’.

The police found Lalit was allegedly running a drug racket with the help of two iPhones, which were seized from the hospital ward.

While a probe in the mephedrone seizure case was on, Lalit fled from the hospital, when he was being taken for an X-ray, on October 2, 2023. A separate FIR for escaping from custody was registered against him at the Bundgarden police station, under relevant IPC sections.

As many as 10 police personnel were suspended for their alleged negligence while performing duty at the hospital. Five of them were dismissed earlier. Of these five, two cops were dismissed on November 20, 2013, and two more December 5, on charges of criminal negligence in this case.

Meanwhile, an internal inquiry revealed that Shivankar and Bansode were supposed to go with Patil to an X-Ray room. But they did not go with him and when he escaped from the spot, they failed to inform the control room immediately. The cops informed the control room three hours later, the inquiry revealed.

Police have so far arrested 14 persons in this offence and filed a 4,800-page chargesheet against eight accused.