Bizmen, chemical engineer were involved in making of contraband.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has made two fresh arrests in the case related to the recent seizure of 23.7 metric tonnes of contraband mandrax in Udaipur, which allegedly belonged to a Mumbai-based import-export businessman-cum-film producer Subhash Dudani.
The DRI had earlier arrested Dudani and his Udaipur-based nephew Ravi. The two arrests, of businessman Parmeshwar Vyas and chemical engineer Atul Mhatre, were made in Mumbai on Friday. While Mhatre was allegedly involved in production of the contraband, Vyas had funded Dudani’s illegal activities.
This mandrax case that is said to be the biggest seizure in the world has seen the involvement of a small-time movie producer who is also said to be engaged in the smuggling of party drugs. Sources revealed that Dudani, kingpin of the racket, owed a huge debt to Parmeshwar Vyas who is the owner of the factory where acetic anhydride was made and Anil Mhatre worked as a chemical engineer.
According to special public prosecutor, Francis Suldanha of DRI, Mhatre played the role of consultant for which Dudani paid him Rs 3 lakh and used to manufacture acetic anhydride that is used in the production of mandrax. All the money that went to Dudani was channelled through Vyas. “Other chemical engineers involved in manufacturing acetic anhydride are yet to be arrested,” said Suldanha.
According to officials, there will be major developments in the case in the coming week. The two arrested by the DRI are on transit remand till November 7 and have been sent to Udaipur, where they will be produced in the court there. “Dudani, who produced the movie Vikalp in 2011, had taken heavy loans from Vyas,” said an official.
The DRI on October 28 had arrested Dudani following the biggest mandrax seizure in history in Udaipur— the 23.7 metric tonnes of methaqualone or mandrax (banned under schedule I of NDPS Act) tablets have an estimated worth of Rs 3,000 crore.
Dudani, in the interrogation, had claimed that he had spent around Rs 1 crore to manufacture the whole consignment and each tablet was to be sold at the rate of $2-3.
