Pune Police Bust Auto-Rickshaw Ganja Supply Network; 35 Kg Cannabis Worth ₹8 Lakh Seized
Pune Police Bust Auto-Rickshaw Ganja Supply Network; 35 Kg Cannabis Worth ₹8 Lakh Seized
Pune, May 18, 2026: Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station has busted an alleged ganja supply racket operating through auto-rickshaws in Pune city and seized more than 35 kilograms of cannabis along with two rickshaws, collectively valued at nearly ₹8 lakh.
According to police, the action was taken on May 14 when a police team from Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station was patrolling the Ambegaon Budruk area. During the operation, police received information that a man identified as Charudatta Kaluram Chavan, 25, a resident of Fursungi-Hadapsar, was transporting ganja in an auto-rickshaw for sale.
The police intercepted the accused on the service road near Suma Chintamani Dnyanpeeth in Ambegaon Budruk and recovered around 2 kilograms of ganja from his rickshaw. A case was subsequently registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, and the accused was arrested.
Further investigation conducted under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Rahul Khilare led to the seizure of an additional 33 kilograms of ganja worth approximately ₹6.45 lakh that had allegedly been hidden by the accused.
Police said the probe has revealed a larger racket involving the transportation and sale of cannabis through auto-rickshaws across Pune city.
Officials also stated that a similar case had been detected just two days earlier, in which another individual was caught transporting ganja in a rickshaw. In that case too, police seized a rickshaw and narcotic substances.
The investigation in both cases is being conducted by Assistant Police Inspector Swapnil Patil.
The anti-drug action was carried out as part of the “Drug-Free Pune” campaign initiated under the directives of Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.
Police said that within the last four days, Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station has registered two NDPS cases, arrested two accused persons and seized over 35 kilograms of ganja along with two auto-rickshaws during the special anti-narcotics drive.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of senior officers including Additional Commissioner of Police Rajesh Bansode, Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mohite and Assistant Commissioner of Police Rahul Aware.
