Chief minister promises to ensure that speedy justice is delivered in serious cases involving narcotics
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Vidhan Bhavan on Tuesday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
To dismantle the narcotics network, those arrested in connection with the sale and distribution of drugs will soon be booked under the Act dealing with organised crime and terrorism. The Maharashtra government has announced the amendment of existing rules and the invocation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to break the pattern where many arrested offenders involved in the drug trade are found returning to their operations immediately after being released from jail.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday, “The government will amend the rules so that those arrested in drug substance cases can be booked under the stringent MCOCA.” During the question hour session in the state Legislative Council, BJP MLC Parinay Fuke had raised the issue of the worsening drug menace and demanded stern action and speedy trials for those arrested in such cases.
Replying to a slew of queries, including those mentioned by Fuke, Fadnavis claimed that the earlier task force specially designed for tackling drug cases was at the district level. “Now, at the level of every police station, the task force is working to curb the drug menace. One police officer and subordinate staff are separately deployed for this task force,” the CM replied.
In March, during the state budget session, Fadnavis had announced the formation of an anti-narcotics cell to crack down on the drug menace. However, admitting that cases need to be expedited, Fadnavis assured the members of the council of speedy justice and trials in such cases. “I will take up the issue with the high court and get the problem addressed, at least in a few serious and important cases,” Fadnavis replied. According to statistics revealed by the home department during the budget session, drugs worth Rs 10,467 crore were seized between 2022 and 2024.
Mumbai cops mostly work 8 hours a day: CM
During the Council proceedings, the issue of extensive working hours for police personnel in the city was raised. In his reply, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reiterated that Mumbai police personnel’s working hours, by and large, are eight hours only, except in a few situations. The CM further explained that police personnel earlier received nominal amounts as encashment in cases where weekly offs could not be granted. “There has been a decent increase in the encashment rate,” Fadnavis stated.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
