Police constable Dharmaraj Kalokhe, who had been lodged in jail in a 110 kg mephedrone drug seizure case in Satara, was on Tuesday arrested in connection with the recovery of 12 kg drugs that was found stashed in the official cupboard inside the police station where he has been stationed in Mumbai.
“Kalokhe, who was in jail in connection with 110 kg of mephedrone drug seizure case in Satara was brought to Mumbai on a transit remand. He has now been arrested in the 12 kg drug seized from Marine Drive Police Station,” said Dhananjay Kulkarni, Deputy Police Commissioner (Crime).
He will be produced before a city court on Wednesday.
Head constable Kalokhe, posted at Marine Drive police station, was arrested on 9 March after 110 kg of mephedrone drug, whose market value runs into “crores of rupees”, was seized from his residence in a village under Khandala taluka in Satara district.
The next day, 12 kg of mephedrone, was seized from Kalokhe’s locked cupboard at the Marine Drive police station, along with Rs 30,000 cash.
One kg of mephedrone, popularly known as meow-meow and M-Cat, costs Rs 20 lakh.
After a thorough interrogation by Satara police, Kalokhe was sent in judicial custody there. Mumbai Police sought his custody in its case now and brought him to the metropolis.
The procedure to dismiss the constable from service is also underway. If proven guilty, Kalokhe may be imprisoned for 10-20 years and fined up to Rs 1 lakh.
An FIR has been registered against Kalokhe at Marine Drive police station under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police has gathered evidence suggesting that the constable was constantly in touch with a woman known as Baby Patankar, who is suspected to be a drug peddler.
“The woman under scanner is believed to be a key figure in a state-wide drug racket. We are hunting for her,” said an officer.
