Overview
- Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh ordered the suspension of inspectors Chethan Kumar, Ramakrishna Reddy and Srinivas from Kothanur, Avalahalli and Bagalur for alleged negligence in detecting drug activity.
- Coordinated operations by Maharashtra’s Anti‑Narcotics Task Force, Bengaluru City Police and the NCB on December 24–25 seized 4.2 kg of mephedrone, about 17 kg of liquid precursors, mixers and barrels at sites including Yerappanahalli, N.G. Gollahalli and Kannur, with no functional lab found.
- Investigators traced the Bengaluru sites after a December 21 Mumbai arrest of Abdul Khader, with subsequent leads including Prashanth Patil guiding follow‑up searches and arrests linked to the supply chain.
- Authorities issued conflicting valuations of the haul, with Karnataka officials citing about ₹1.2 crore and the Maharashtra ANTF claiming roughly ₹55 crore.
- In separate actions, the Central Crime Branch reported two drug‑peddling arrests with narcotics valued at ₹2.5 crore, and Bagalur police registered an extortion case against a city‑based journalist over alleged threats to publish accusatory reports.