Pune Crime Branch’s Anti-Narcotics Cell has arrested a grocery store owner in the Shivane area for allegedly selling cannabis-infused Banta candies. These candies were reportedly being distributed near residential areas, societies, and educational institutions, raising concerns about substance abuse among youth.
The accused, identified as Dinesh Mohanlal Choudhary (30), a resident of Radhakrishna Apartment, Deshmukhwadi, Shivane, was caught during a raid conducted by the Anti-Narcotics Cell.
Acting on intelligence reports, police officials searched a grocery store in Deshmukhwadi Canal Road, Shivane, and found 24 packets of cannabis-laced Banta candies, each weighing 200 grams, totaling 4.8 kilograms, valued at ₹11,000.
Choudhary, originally from Rajasthan, has been running a grocery business in Pune for the past five years. Authorities are now investigating where he procured these cannabis-infused candies and to whom he was supplying them.
The operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Ulhas Kadam, Assistant Police Inspector Aniket Pote, and Police Sub-Inspector Digambar Kokate, along with officers Sachin Malve, Sandeep Shirke, Vipin Gaikwad, Vishal Dalvi, Maruti Pardhi, Sandesh Kakade, Dattaram Jadhav, and Yogesh Mohite. A case has been registered at the Uttamnagar Police Station, and further investigations are underway.