Lalit Patil supplied MD to Mumbai while in Pune hospital

Pune police also apprehended Patil’s aide with 1.71 kg of mephedrone. Representation pic

The Sakinaka police, during their investigation into drug lord Lalit Patil's case, discovered that through his sophisticated gang network, he managed to supply approximately 150 kg of mephedrone (MD) worth Rs 300 crore in Mumbai alone. This was done while he was receiving treatment at Sassoon General Hospital in Pune. The shocking revelation has prompted the department to further delve into his intricate network and suppliers he had in the city.

"His network is so extensive that he conducted operations from within the hospital, continuing to supply drugs between June and October, until his escape," an officer said.

Investigations revealed that he had been supplying MD to a major facilitator - Rehan Alam Ansari - who was among the 12 initially arrested by the Sakinaka police during the bust of a drug factory in Nasik where contraband worth R300 crore was seized. This operation was led by DCP Datta Nalwade, who had previously dismantled the largest MD racket during his tenure as deputy commissioner of the anti-narcotics cell (ANC), seizing drugs worth
Rs 5,000 crore.

As of now, 16 people including Patil have been arrested, and a manhunt is underway for other suspected members of the syndicate. Sources suggest that after escaping from Sassoon hospital, Patil refrained from using a cell phone, frequenting various coffee shops and hotels across states to use public Wi-Fi networks, before his recent capture in Bangalore earlier this week.

Patil was arrested by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police for his involvement in a large-scale MD operation in December 2020. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Yerawada Central Prison. However, due to health issues - including hernia and tuberculosis - he was admitted to Sassoon hospital in June this year.

On September 30, Pune police apprehended Patil's accomplice - Subhash Mandal - close to the hospital premises, with MD weighing approximately 1.71 kg, estimated to be worth R2.14 crore. The authorities claimed that Patil had provided the narcotics to Mandal, utilising the assistance of a canteen staff member from the hospital. Patil managed to escape from the hospital despite being escorted by a police team for an X-ray examination on October 2.

Rs 300cr
Approx value of MD supplied