Another Accused Held in Maharashtra Drug Racket, Shinde’s Shiv Sena Alleges Link with NCP (Sharad Pawar) – News18

After alleged drug kingpin Lalit Patil’s recent arrest, he has been at the centre of a war of words between the opposition and ruling sides in Maharashtra. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that before the split of the Shiv Sena, it put Patil in charge of Nashik City. The Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray has accused leaders and ministers from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena of having a close association with the alleged drug lord. Now, police have arrested another accused, Salman Falke, in the same case. And, according to MLC Manisha Kayande from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Falke is an active member of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction).

Kayande has demanded an explanation from Jitendra Awhad, NCP leader and MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa, about his and his party’s association with Falke.

Nashik police recently arrested Falke based on a specific lead from an investigation in a drug case. Falke was found with 54 grams of mephedrone. Photographs of Falke with Thane Municipal Corporation leader of opposition Shanu Pathan, former minister Awhad, and NCP MP Supriya Sule have put the party in a tight spot.

In a press conference, Kayande said, “Jitendra Awhad and Supriya Sule who made baseless and unfounded accusations against Shiv Sena ministers should explain how they took pictures with an accused of a drug case? Is the accused Salman a party functionary and what is their relationship with that accused? These photos say a lot. We just want to know the truth behind it. The task of the police is to find the accused. The home minister has given strict orders to the police in this regard. We have to find out who these accused are close to, and whether they have any political hand behind them. If things like drugs are flourishing in Maharashtra, it should be stopped in time. If there is any political hand behind this, we demand that they should be thoroughly investigated and action should be taken. This must be a big racket in Kalwa and Mumbra and this has to be exposed.”

When this reporter contacted Awhad, he said, “This is a deliberately created controversy. I will talk about this issue. soon.”

NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) Thane district head Anand Paranjpe told News18, “We demand strict action from the police in this matter. They should investigate the links of accused Falke and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) local leader Shanu Pathan, or any other political leaders. For us, the priority is to stop that drug racket.”