Mumbai Crime Branch Arrests Jail Policeman in Rs 115 Crore Satara MD Drug Factory Case
In a significant breakthrough in the Rs 115 crore Satara MD drugs factory case, Unit 7 of the Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested policeman Balu Chavan, who was posted at Solapur Jail. The arrest was made on allegations that Chavan assisted the main accused, Fiyaz Sheikh, in operating a drug syndicate from behind bars.
Drug Network Operated from Prison with Police Complicity
According to investigators, Sheikh has been lodged in Solapur jail for nearly one and a half years. Despite his incarceration, he allegedly continued to run his narcotics network with the help of the arrested policeman. Police sources revealed that Chavan permitted Sheikh to use his mobile phone inside the jail, enabling the accused to control drug operations and coordinate with associates outside the prison walls.
Officials further claimed that Chavan received large sums of money in return for facilitating communication and providing logistical support to Sheikh. This complicity allowed the drug syndicate to function smoothly, highlighting a serious breach of security within the correctional facility.
Discovery and Bust of the MD Manufacturing Unit
The probe has uncovered that a mephedrone (MD) manufacturing unit was allegedly set up on December 9, 2025, at a farm in Savari village of Javali taluka in Satara district. The factory was busted on December 13, 2025, after Crime Branch Unit 7 conducted a raid based on leads obtained during the interrogation of a drug peddler arrested in the Mulund area of Mumbai.
During the operation, authorities seized MD drugs and related materials with an estimated value of around Rs 115 crore. This massive haul underscores the scale of the illegal operation and its potential impact on the drug trade in the region.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
Following his arrest, Balu Chavan was produced before a court and remanded to police custody until February 21. The police have stated that further investigation is underway to trace other members of the network involved in this extensive drug syndicate.
Sources added that Sheikh's son, who is believed to be operating from Dubai and coordinating the drug trade and financial transactions, has also been named as an accused. He is currently absconding, and efforts are being made to locate and apprehend him as part of the broader crackdown on this criminal network.
This case highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating drug trafficking, especially when it involves collusion from within the system. The arrest of a policeman in such a high-profile case sends a strong message about the authorities' commitment to rooting out corruption and dismantling organized crime networks.
