In a massive operation spanning over two days, the police have unearthed a staggering 1,100 kilograms of the banned drug Mephedrone (MD) –  street name ‘Meow Meow’ – with an estimated value exceeding Rs 2,500 crore in raids across Pune and New Delhi. 

According to the police, the operation began with the arrest of three drug smugglers in Pune, accompanied by the seizure of 700 kg of Mephedrone. The subsequent interrogation of these individuals led to the confiscation of an additional 400 kg of the synthetic stimulant from godown-like structures in Delhi’s Hauz Khas area. 

Another large consignment of Mephedrone was stored in Pune, particularly in the Kurkumbh MIDC area.

The sheer magnitude of this drug bust marks it as the largest-ever drug recovery by Pune Police in Maharashtra and one of the most substantial drug busts in the country. 

Drug Supply Lines

Preliminary investigations indicate that the contraband was being transported from the Kurkumbh MIDC-based units to storage facilities in New Delhi. The police have apprehended five individuals in connection with the operation, including three couriers and two others currently under interrogation.

The arrested individuals, described as “courier boys” by Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, have previous offenses registered against them.

Commissioner Kumar said the police are diligently probing the case, collaborating closely with other agencies to dismantle potential connections within the drug trade.

One of those detained in connection with the case is Anil Sable, an owner of the Pune factory where the drugs were stored. Sable was apprehended from Dombivali in Maharashtra’s Thane in the morning. 

The police also suspect a potential link between the detained individuals and notorious drug trafficker Lalit Patil. Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of Patil’s involvement in the case.

The Drug Bust 

Pune Police’s crackdown on the drug smuggling network began from a salt warehouse in Pune.  Raids in Bhairavnagar and Vishrantwadi areas led to the arrest of three smugglers and the seizure of Mephedrone worth Rs 3.5 crore.

Simultaneously, the Pune Police’s counterparts in Delhi conducted a major operation in the Hauz Khas area, recovering drugs worth about Rs 1,000 crore. The raid is currently ongoing, in a joint effort by Pune and Delhi Police, with estimates that the final count could exceed Rs 3,000 crore. 

Terminating a woman’s employment on the grounds of marriage was “coarse case of gender discrimination” and any law based on a gender bias is “constitutionally impermissible”, the Supreme Court has said, ordering the Centre to pay Rs 60 lakh in dues to a military nurse who was removed from service after she married.

A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta passed the order on a request by Selina John, who was terminated from service upon her marriage in 1988. At the time, she held the rank of Lieutenant. She had approached the Armed Forces Tribunal in 2012, which ruled in her favour and ordered that she be reinstated. In 2019, however, the Centre appealed against the order in the Supreme Court.

In an order dated February 14, the bench held that the tribunal judgment does not require any interference. A rule introduced in 1977 that allowed dismissal from the Military Nursing Service on the grounds of marriage had been withdrawn in 1995, the court noted.

“Such rule was ex facie manifestly arbitrary, as terminating employment because the woman has got married is a coarse case of gender discrimination and inequality. Acceptance of such patriarchal rule undermines human dignity, right to non-discrimination and fair treatment. Laws and regulations based on gender-based bias are constitutionally impermissible. Rules making marriage of women employees and their domestic involvement a ground for disentitlement would be unconstitutional,” the bench said in the order.

The bench, however, modified the tribunal’s ruling to reinstate the employee and provide back wages. Instead, it asked the Centre to pay Rs 60 lakh in compensation. The bench also noted that LJohn had worked as a nurse in a private organisation for a short time. The court said the payment of compensation must be made within eight weeks of the Centre receiving the order.

Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani are all set to tie the knot today. As per reports, the couple will have two wedding ceremonies.

The pre-wedding festivities kicked off in Goa with a haldi ceremony. Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani celebrated with mehendi and sangeet ceremonies, featuring unique performances by their friends and family.

A picture that has gone viral from the couple’s sangeet sees Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Samiksha Pednekar, Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra and Tahira Kashyap posing together for the camera.

Varun Dhawan showcased his dance moves to the song Husn Hai Suhana from Coolie No. 1 at the sangeet. Shilpa Shetty also took the stage for a performance with her husband Raj Kundra.

Check it out here:

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra’s amazing dance moves at Sangeet Ceremony of RakulPreet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani in Goa 💥♥ï¸ÂÂÂ�#ShilpaShetty #RakulPreetSingh #JackkyBhagnani #Bollywood #Goa pic.twitter.com/8VayDzgrLh

— cine_sdn (@sdn789_) February 21, 2024

As per reports, Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani have planned to have an eco-friendly wedding.