A SECOND laboratory on the premises of Avon Lifesciences Ltd, from where nearly 20 tonnes of Ephedrine was seized recently, has attracted the attention of the Thane police. Investigators had alleged that the firm was diverting Ephedrine, a controlled substance used to make medicines, to drug cartels to cook the make party drug Meth. An officer linked to the probe said, “The company has one laboratory for production purposes. While conducting searches at the premises, we found a second laboratory, which appears to have been set up some time ago. When we asked why the second laboratory was needed, we did not get a convincing answer.” [related-post] Watch Video: What's making news The officer added: “We are probing if it was being used to clean the Ephedrine waste product kept at the company tin shed. They had been told to process the Ephedrine into a white powder before sending it to the drug cartel as it had become yellowish in colour.” Investigators said they will also study whether the second lab was being used to manufacture any other illegal substance. The police had cited the probe into the second laboratory as one of the reasons why three accused in the case should not be granted bail. The Thane police’s application opposing the bail plea said that “though company was having independent equip lab, present accused (Rajendra Dimri) has prepared RND lab separately for the purpose of processing Ephedrine powder”. The Thane police have so far arrested 10 persons in the case while seven others have been named as wanted accused. Those arrested include one of the directors of Avon Lifesciences, while former starlet Mamta Kulkarni and druglord Vicky Goswami are among the wanted. The police are also recording the statements Avon Lifesciences’s security guards, who had fled the place after the case came to light. “Some of them had gone to their native places, fearing they too would be arrested,” an officer said. Officers will record their statements to get more evidence against those arrested. The police are still on the lookout for Kishore Rathod, son of a former Gujarat legislator, who has been on the run ever since the case came to light on April 15. While the police have filed chargesheets against nine persons, they will file one soon against Jay Mukhi, who was arrested later.
