Police have arrested the prime accused in the drugs-and-gun-planting case, days after releasing innocent Matunga resident Faqrudin Sayyed and his friend. Dharavi drug peddler Nicolas Pandian alias Nikki, 29, was first traced to a priest’s house where he hid for a few days, before locking himself in a rented room in Versova, from where he was finally nabbed. Considering the seriousness of the case, Mumbai Commissioner of Police (CP) Hemant Nagrale has ordered the Crime Branch to further investigate the matter.

Crime Branch’s Unit 5 arrested Nicolas late Wednesday night from a rented room in Versova slum. Nicolas, who allegedly stalked and harassed Sayyed’s fiancee, has claimed innocence, said officers. He accused Naeem Qureshi of planting the drugs, gun and bullets for ransom. On November 26, Sahu Nagar police raided Sayyed’s house in Matunga labour camp and found 485 gm of mephedrone (MD) and a country-made pistol along with bullets in a box. They arrested him and his friend Gopal Mooponr. Police had arrested Qureshi earlier for planting the box.