The main accused in the Matunga drugs-and-gun-planting case has told the Crime Branch that the drugs recovered from Labour Camp resident Faqrudin Sayyed’s home were a mixture of Ajinomoto, a flavour enhancer, and Crocin. Nicolas Pandian claims that he and the planter Naeem Qureshi wanted to make some quick bucks and thought the police would reward them, said a source. The Crime Branch has sent the recovered material for forensic analysis. 

The Shahu Nagar police had earlier arrested Sayyed and his friend Gopal Mooponr after they claimed that they had recovered 485 grams of MD and a country-made revolver. Both were later found to be innocent after it was established that the contraband and the firearm were planted at Sayyed’s home. Nicolas is accused of stalking Sayyed’s fiancee. He wanted the two to break up.