Pune Police's Anti-Narcotics Squad arrested three men, including a suspended doctor, with mephedrone worth ₹11.43 lakh in Bibwewadi.
The doctor, previously caught in a drug case, was found reoffending, raising alarms about repeated offenders in narcotics operations.
The operation led to a total seizure worth ₹15.84 lakh and was conducted under top Crime Branch officials, with further investigation underway.
Pune, 17 July 2025: In a significant crackdown on the city’s drug network, the Pune City Police's Anti-Narcotics Squad arrested three men, including a young doctor who had previously been suspended over a drug trafficking case. The trio was caught with mephedrone valued at ₹11.43 lakh in the Bibwewadi area.
The accused have been identified as Mohammad alias Ayan Jarun Sheikh (27), a resident of Undri; Samuel Balasaheb Pratap (28), from Hingne Khurd; and Aniket Vitthal Kudle (27), from Narayan Peth. All three have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Bibwewadi Police Station.
Mohammad Sheikh, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, holds an MBBS degree and was formerly employed at a private hospital in Pune. He was arrested in a previous drug-related case and subsequently suspended from medical duties. His involvement in yet another narcotics case has raised serious concerns over repeat offenders within drug trafficking networks.
According to the police, the Anti-Narcotics Squad was patrolling the Bibwewadi area when they intercepted a suspicious vehicle near a hotel. Upon inspection, they found the three accused in possession of a large quantity of mephedrone. Along with the drug, the squad also seized a car and several mobile phones, taking the total value of confiscated items to ₹15.84 lakh.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pankaj Deshmukh, with direct involvement from Deputy Commissioner Nikhil Pingle and Assistant Commissioner Rajendra Mulik. The action team was led by Senior Inspector Prashant Annachhatre and included Assistant Inspector Anil Suravase, Sub-Inspector Digambar Kokate, and Sandeep Shirke.
Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has ordered a more aggressive crackdown on drug peddlers across the city. Investigations are ongoing to trace the origin of the seized mephedrone and identify its intended recipients.