How the factory’s ventilation system led to a massive drug bust in Madhya Pradesh

The drug seizure has led to political row

Bhopal:

The factory in Madhya Pradesh, where the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized drugs worth over Rs 1,800 crore, was registered as a soap manufacturing unit.

The unit in Bagroda Industrial Enclave, about 10 km from Bhopal, was rented out to a third person.

“Land was allotted for setting up a soap manufacturing unit, where different types of chemicals would be used, but it was rented out to a third party,” said Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra.

48 hours later, the raids are still ongoing.

Two people – Sanyal Prakash Bane and Amit Chaturvedi – were arrested earlier. On Monday, police arrested a third suspect, Harish Anjana, from Mandsaur district, about 350 km from Bhopal, and handed him over to Gujarat ATS for further interrogation. An FIR has been registered against the factory owners.

The factory, which was rented six months ago, is the focus of the investigation.

Officers have searched the location, searched scattered chemical bottles and seized evidence as part of the ongoing operation.

The suspects were on the radar of Gujarat ATS for over a month.

Suspicion turned to certainty when officers discovered that the factory’s ventilation system was connected to ground level, a method rare in typical industrial operations where ventilation is usually placed on the roof.

The suspect had also reportedly procured raw materials for drug production from Vapi, Gujarat, nearly 700 kilometers from Bhopal.

The suspects allegedly used cryptocurrency to carry out transactions and planned to send drug shipments to Britain and Dubai, police say.

During interrogation, Harish Anjana confessed to supplying the chemical used for manufacturing MD drugs (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) through the Gujarat-Maharashtra route, police added.

The political queue

As the investigation continues, the case has taken a political turn. The Congress has criticized the ruling BJP after images emerged of one of the accused, Harish Anjana, with Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda.

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Congress leader Jitu Patwari accused the BJP of having links with the drug mafia and pointed to the photo as proof of the association.

“The state is number one in the drug trade, and the mafia operates under the protection of the government,” Patwari alleged.

He further alleged that the leaders of BJP Yuva Morcha were involved in drug trafficking operations and questioned the role of the government in allowing such activities to flourish.

Manoj Singh, DIG, Ratlam Range, said, “So far, no information has surfaced linking Harish with any political leader or police officer. However, the police are thoroughly investigating all these possibilities and all leads in this direction will be closely investigated. “

In response, BJP leaders, including Madhya Pradesh BJP president VD Sharma, dismissed the allegations. Mr. Sharma stated that simply having a photo with a public figure does not imply any connection with criminal activity. He accused the Congress of trying to tarnish the state’s reputation and demoralize the police.

“Many people take photos with political leaders, but that does not mean they are involved in their actions. Congress is trying to defame Madhya Pradesh with lies and deceit,” Sharma said.

He also commended the police for their successful action and assured the public that the suspects would face strict legal action.

Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda also addressed the controversy and claimed that the photo does not imply any connection between him and the accused.

“A criminal cannot be acquitted simply by being photographed with a political figure. Strict action must be taken against criminals, and I have no association with such individuals. Congress should focus on its own internal affairs before making baseless accusations.

Mr Devda added that both the party and himself fully support law enforcement and no criminal will be spared.

“The law will take its own course and we will not defend such criminals,” he said.

Questions galore

As the NCB and ATS continue their investigation, questions are being raised about how such large-scale drug production could go unnoticed in an industrial area.

The Bagroda Industrial Area is home to 423 plots, of which industries are active on approximately 125 plots. Despite being close to other industries, neither local authorities nor workers in the area were aware of the pharmaceutical factory’s activities.