Pune MD Drug Bust: Four Arrested, 8.19 Grams Seized; Wider Network Probed
Pune MD Drug Bust: Four Arrested, 8.19 Grams Seized; Wider Network Probed
Pune, April 2, 2026: The Uttamnagar police have arrested four individuals for their alleged involvement in a mephedrone (MD) drug distribution network operating in the city.
The action followed a tip-off received by Senior Police Inspector Raghavendra Kshirsagar about the movement of a suspect, Sunil Gopal Rathod, in the Sinhagad Shrushti area. Acting swiftly, a police team set up a trap and detained Rathod. During the search, officers recovered around 3 grams of MD and two mobile phones from him.
An initial analysis of the mobile data revealed online financial transactions amounting to nearly ₹10 lakh. Police suspect that a significant portion of this money was circulated among multiple individuals, while funds were collected from hundreds of buyers.
Further investigation led to the arrest of three more suspects—Shubham Santosh Dahibhate, Rajan Gopal Nair, and Jatin Jayant Kadam—who are believed to be part of the supply and distribution chain. According to police, the accused were sourcing the drug and distributing it across the city, pointing to an organised network.
Officials said the probe has so far uncovered over 300 transactions linked to both suppliers and consumers. All four accused were produced before a special NDPS court and remanded to police custody until April 8.
Police also noted that the accused have prior criminal records and have been booked in multiple cases, including under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Rathod was previously involved in a kidnapping case last year.
Additional raids conducted during the investigation led to the seizure of more MD, taking the total recovery to 8.19 grams. Authorities have also confiscated mobile phones and vehicles valued at ₹2.36 lakh.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Further investigation is underway to trace the larger network.
