In a significant administrative move, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Wardha district, Anurag Jain, has been transferred. This action comes merely days after he held a private, one-on-one discussion with Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. The transfer is set against the backdrop of a massive synthetic drug manufacturing racket recently busted in the district, which has put the local police administration under intense scrutiny.
The DRI Raid and the Massive Drug Haul
The catalyst for this upheaval was a major operation by the central Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The agency unearthed a large-scale mephedrone, commonly known as MD, manufacturing unit in Karanja village, located within the Wardha district. The raid proved to be highly successful, leading to the seizure of 128 kilograms of finished mephedrone. The estimated street value of this confiscated narcotic is a staggering Rs 192 crore.
In addition to the finished drug, officials also confiscated 245 kilograms of raw chemicals and various pieces of equipment specifically used for the production of synthetic drugs. The central agency's operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals connected to the illegal manufacturing racket. This discovery highlighted a serious breach of law and order in the region.
Political Pressure and Police Accountability
The exposure of the drug unit triggered immediate political fallout and raised serious questions about the efficacy of the local police force. The issue was brought to the forefront during the winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur. MLA Sumit Wankhede, whose constituency includes the affected area, directly challenged the police administration on the floor of the house.
Wankhede demanded to know why the local police remained completely unaware of a large-scale narcotics operation functioning right under their noses. This public questioning in the assembly intensified the pressure on the Wardha police administration, forcing them to take internal action. Following the DRI's revelations, the officer in charge of the Karanja Ghadge police station was promptly attached to the Wardha police headquarters. Authorities also initiated disciplinary proceedings against other police personnel linked to the jurisdiction.
The Chief Minister's Meeting and Subsequent Transfer
Amid this growing controversy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Deoli for an election campaign. During this visit, Fadnavis held a private discussion with SP Anurag Jain. The exact details of their conversation have not been disclosed to the public. Notably, this meeting took place just two days before the official transfer order for Jain was issued.
While the state government has not explicitly linked the transfer to the drug racket, the timing is conspicuous. The transfer has sparked debates on whether the administrative actions taken so far are sufficient, considering the enormous scale and gravity of the narcotics manufacturing operation that was uncovered. The case continues to underscore challenges in monitoring and curbing organized drug syndicates in the region.
