Seizure of arms at JNPT was meant for Rajan gang: Cops

Crime branch sources said ten tonnes of grease were despatched to Sudarshan Agro in February this year from Thailand. But the arms which were supposed to come hidden in the grease did not reach. Hence, Yewale had not taken delivery of the consignment, and it is still lying unclaimed at JNPT, police said.

On the second attempt, barrels containing four tonnes of grease were used to conceal foreign-made arms worth Rs 1 crore. Yewale, whose firm was supposed to take possession of the entire consignment, is now under arrest. ‘‘Yewale has a close link with Chhota Rajan,’’ DCP Kamalakar said.

Investigations have revealed that the arms were despatched from Bangkok by a Thai-based firm Millenium Technologies. Mumbai Police is now in touch with Interpol to ascertain the antecedents of Millenium Technologies. ‘‘Although we are sure Millenium Technologies is Chhota Rajan’s firm, we still want to find out if the men associated with it have a previous crime record there,’’ the official said.

Investigations have also revealed that clearing house supervisor Mukund Patel, who was a radiology technician by training, had advised the consignee in Thailand to wrap X-ray films around the firearms to avoid detection from scanners available at JNPT.

Yewale and Madhu Kutty, a clearing agent of Sai Logistic Clearning Agency, had sent Patel to Bangkok in April to expedite the shipment. Patel had met Chhota Rajan and a close aide Bharat Nepali. As per their instructions, he had supervised the loading of guns into a barrel along with X-ray films in a container on the vessel owned by Samudra Shipping Company, Mimista, which was destined for Mumbai.

According to the Crime Branch, the transporting of the arms and ammunition came to light when Patel, a resident of Badlapur, was caught red-handed from Lata Bar & Restaurant at Kandivali (West) while he was trying to sell a firearm.

He then led the police to the consignment which included 34 revolvers, three pistols and live cartridges.