Cops to leave out Mamta’s name in Interpol list

The Thane police is likely to approach Interpol asking it to issue a red-corner notice for international drug dealer Vicky Goswami, among other absconding accused, in connection with the Rs 2,000-crore ephedrine drug haul case.

However, Bollywook actress Mamta Kulkarni would be off the Interpol’s hook for now, as the Thane police lacks sufficient evidence against her to prove her involvement in the racket.

“Interpol legislation mandates providing substantial evidence against the absconding accused. We have enough evidence against a few other accused and are still in the process of collecting more, but till today we have not been able to collect solid information against Kulkarni that could inculpate her,” said an official, who did not give his name.

Evidence against Goswami and two other accused include phone conversations, hawala deals, which have been supplemented by the American investigation agency.”

“We need the custody of a few other accused too who work with Goswami such as Dr Abdulla and Kishor Rathod. We will collect more evidence against these accused and then ask Interpol to issue a red corner notice.”

The police has relied on statements made by Punit Shringi, one of the 10 arrested accused so far in the racket, to link Kulkarni to the racket. Shringi said Kulkarni was present at a meeting on January 8 in Kenya, where the logistics for smuggling drugs were decided. He said at the meeting, it was also decided to make Kulkarni the managing director of Goswami’s company, for which nearly 11 lakh shares of the more than 2 crore shares of Avon were being transferred to her to make her eligible to become a director in the company. Avon Lifesciences Limited director Manoj Jain was selling the shares to Kulkarni, which cost between Rs 35 and Rs 40, at Rs 26 per share.

The Thane police has added the named of Kulkarni in the chargesheet, along with that of her husband Goswami, and termed her conspirator.