Goregaon Couple Running A Drug Racket Abscond With Rs. 174 Crore; The Lure Of Money In Drugs Peddling Enticing Many

Drug peddling has emerged as a lucrative and dangerous trade that ensnares individuals into a web of crime and addiction. The allure of money and the promise of quick wealth or the lure of a lavish lifestyle has turned out to be significant motivators for seemingly regular people choosing to enter this trade.

An example of the same can be seen when the Madhya Pradesh police summoned a couple suspected to be involved in a drug racket.
However, upon receiving the summons, the couple swiftly transferred over half of the alleged Rs 300 crore drug money to various accounts before fleeing their residence.

The couple, Shivani Mehta and her husband, Ashish Kumar Shailesh Mehta, who is believed to be the masterminds of a significant home-based drug distribution operation, withdrew Rs 96 lakh from their accounts and fled. One of the couple’s associates, a resident of Mira Road, was apprehended with MDMA worth Rs 17 lakh.

In response, the Madhya Pradesh police have issued a lookout notice for the couple. The incident sparked a political controversy, with local leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena leading a protest outside the school.

A previous report revealed that Shivani Mehta and her husband, Ashish Kumar Shailesh Mehta, both enthusiasts of digital currency and involved in business, were accused of operating a drug distribution network from their upscale residence in Goregaon.

The Khaniyadhana police in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, initiated an investigation after one of their associates, Nissar Zuber Khan, was caught with 142 grams of MDMA worth Rs 17 lakh. The police also confiscated a silver Santro car related to the case. During interrogation, Khan disclosed that he worked as a courier for the Mehtas.

On June 6, Ashish Mehta had provided him with the parcel, which was later seized by the police. The package was intended to be delivered to Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh. Khan further revealed that he received a new mobile phone and SIM card for each assignment and was instructed to destroy them after completing the delivery.

On June 11, the Khaniyadhana police, accompanied by Khan, visited Mumbai and, with the assistance of Aarey police, went to the Mehtas’ residence at Oberoi Esquire. The couple was summoned to the police station for an identification parade, and they were positively identified from a lineup.

The Mehtas were accompanied by their lawyer, who claimed that they had been framed and requested time to present evidence. However, the lawyer provided a cell phone number that was switched off, and repeated attempts to contact the couple proved unsuccessful. Consequently, their names were included in the First Information Report (FIR) on Wednesday, as per Dhanendra Singh Bhadoria, the Station House Officer of Khaniyadhana police station.

A team of approximately eight policemen, led by Bhadoria, is currently in Mumbai in search of the Mehtas. They visited the couple’s residence on Friday morning and found the main door locked. The police learned from the driver that the couple had left the previous evening and instructed him not to return. Investigations revealed that the Mehtas were aware of the police’s visit and had provided false contact information and names to the building’s security.

Based on the couple’s mobile phone records, the police discovered Ashish Mehta’s bank account details at a reputable bank branch in Andheri East. It was revealed that he had been consistently transferring money from his account. On Thursday, he transferred approximately Rs 70 lakh, followed by an additional Rs 26 lakh on Friday, to various accounts. By late Friday, the remaining balance from the alleged Rs 300 crore drug money was Rs 126 crore. Bhadoria stated that they would now question the account holders and confirmed the issuance of a lookout notice for the couple.

No Arrest In The Drug Racket

Regarding the inability to make an arrest, Advocate Vishal Saxxenaa explained that Section 42 of the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act empowers officers with the authority to enter, search, seize, and arrest without a warrant or authorization. However, it is crucial for the suspect to be in possession of the narcotics substance. The section allows the officer to make an arrest only when there is a reasonable belief that the suspect possesses drugs or any material or document that could serve as evidence of the offence and is kept or concealed in the searched location.
In the current case, if no such article of possession is found, the police can only request the suspect to appear for investigation and cannot make an arrest without a warrant.

The Lure Of Money
Drug peddling has emerged as a lucrative and dangerous trade that ensnares individuals into a web of crime and addiction. The allure of money and the promise of quick wealth is drawing people towards drug syndicates and entering the illegal trade.

One of the primary factors driving individuals towards drug peddling is the lure of money. The promise of substantial profits in a relatively short period seduces vulnerable individuals who may be desperate for financial security or enticed by a lavish lifestyle.

What’s more, the potential to earn significant sums without conventional education or qualifications makes drug peddling an appealing but treacherous path for many.

One Who Has Wealth Has The Power
Society’s glorification of wealth and material possessions further fuels the allure of drug peddling. Popular culture often portrays drug dealers as powerful figures living in luxury, influencing vulnerable individuals’ perceptions. The desire for social status and recognition can blind people to the harsh realities and legal repercussions associated with drug peddling.

Criminal Networks and Exploitation
Drug syndicates skillfully exploit individuals’ vulnerabilities, luring them into a world of crime and addiction. These criminal networks capitalize on people’s desires for financial stability, preying on their desperation or greed. By offering monetary incentives and a sense of belonging, they manipulate individuals into becoming part of their illicit operations, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation and crime.

The Last Bit, Drug peddling remains a grave issue that stems from the allure of money and the promise of a better life. However, the tragic consequences of involvement in the drug trade far outweigh any initial financial gains.
While the police hunt for the couple at large, they still haven’t been able to trace the couple’s movements as yet.