Posted in J&K, the jawan had taken leave to deliver 326 grams of brown sugar, say police officials
army jawan
An army jawan and two of his friends were caught in possession of 326.5 grams of brown sugar worth R7.63 lakh at MIDC chowk in Bhosari on Wednesday night.
NABBED: The army jawan, Sandeep Kolhe, and his two friends were produced in court and remanded in police custody last afternoon. (belowt) The jawan’s identity card. Pics/Mohan Patil
Police have arrested the trio, and they were remanded in police custody by a court on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The jawan’s identity card. Pics/Mohan Patil
The jawan, identified as Sandeep Raghunath Kolhe (26), a resident of Nashik, belongs to the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment and was posted in Jammu & Kashmir. Police officials said he had taken leave and come down to Pune to deliver the drugs.
His two friends, identified as Saurabh Sanjay Walunj (22) and Deepak Ratnakar Gaikwad (23), hail from Mahad in Raigad district.
The suspects have been charged under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Tipped-off
Constable Pandit Tapkir had received a tip-off that the trio would be reaching the MIDC chowk in Bhosari on Wednesday night.
Accordingly, a trap was laid and the suspects were nabbed. A plastic bag containing brown sugar was found in the car. Police have also seized Walunj’s car worth Rs 12.63 lakh.
Police Sub-Inspector Sanjay Kandalkar said, “Kolhe, Walunj and Gaikwad were friends and used to meet often. Kolhe had taken leave and had come down to Pune to deliver the packet of brown sugar.”
“Primary investigations have revealed that Kolhe had obtained the drugs from Jammu & Kashmir, and was going to deliver them to their fourth accomplice, who is absconding,” he added.
Set roles
“Kolhe was going to handover the packet of brown sugar to his absconding friend in Solapur. Saurabh’s role was to provide his car, and Deepak used to accompany them while delivering the drugs. We are investigating how many times the suspects had delivered drugs in Pune and Solapur,” added Tapkir.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
